Berry blast leads Jacksonville to epic win in Triple-A National Championship
LAS VEGAS - Jacob Berry’s two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday propelled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to an 8-7 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators, sealing the club’s first Triple-A National Championship.
LAS VEGAS - Jacob Berry’s two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday propelled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to an 8-7 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators, sealing the club’s first Triple-A National Championship.
As the International League champion, Jacksonville led 6-2 going to the top of the ninth inning. Daniel Susac started the inning with a single, Luke Mann walked and then Denzel Clarke notched an RBI base hit to put runners on the corners. After a walk by Alejo Lopez, Nick Martini collected an RBI ground out to pull the Aviators within 6-4. Bryan Lavastida cracked a three-run go-ahead home run to put Las Vegas in front 7-6.
Jack Winkler, who notched three hits, started the bottom of the ninth with a single. After a strikeout, Berry blasted a bomb to right-center off Aviators reliever Jake Walkinshaw (0-1) to give the Jumbo Shrimp the 8-7 win.
The Aviators struck first in the top of the third. After two quick outs, Alejo Lopez and Nick Martini drew consecutive walks. Bryan Lavastida was hit by a pitch and Junior Perez drew a bases loaded walk, pushing in the first run of the game.
The Jumbo Shrimp came storming back in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Nathan Martorella reached on an error and Jack Winkler blasted a two-run home run putting Jacksonville ahead 2-1. Two batters later, Berry was hit by a pitch and Joe Mack clobbered the second two-run blast of the inning, pushing the Jumbo Shrimp advantage to 4-1.
Jacksonville extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After a pitching change, Winkler and Victor Mesa Jr. welcomed new Aviators pitcher Anthony Maldonado with back-to-back doubles giving the Jumbo Shrimp a four-run cushion, 5-1. In the ensuing at-bat, Berry drove in Mesa Jr. with a base hit, increasing the lead to 6-1.
Las Vegas started to close the gap in the eighth. Lopez was hit by a pitch to start the frame and two batters later, Lavastida was also hit by a pitch. Perez walked to load the bases and Cooper Bowman plated Lopez with a sacrifice fly.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The team calls VyStar Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.