JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jared Serna’s three-run homer in the sixth inning pushed the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp ahead of the Memphis Redbirds en route to a 9-5 win Friday night at VyStar Ballpark.
Memphis (59-47, 12-19) regained the lead in the sixth. Thomas Saggese (8) started the frame with a solo homer off Jacksonville (53-51, 11-19) hurler Bradley Blalock giving the Redbirds a 4-3 lead.
The Jumbo Shrimp rallied to regain the lead in the sixth and they would never look back. Matthew Etzel and Olmstead started the frame with walks. Serna (9) followed with a three-run blast, leapfrogging Jacksonville ahead of the Redbirds, 6-4.
Jacksonville added three insurance runs in the eighth. Gage Miller was hit by a pitch and two batters later Serna walked. Andrew Pintar roped a double, plating Miller and pushing Serna to third. Owen Caissie walked to load the bases. A two-run single from Kemp Alderman pushed the Jumbo Shrimp lead to 9-4.
Memphis tacked on one more run in the ninth. Colton Ledbetter doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout.
The Redbirds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. Victor Scott II led off with a single and scored on a two-run homer by Leo Bernal (14).
The Jumbo Shrimp responded with a run of their own in the first. Two consecutive walks to Pintar and Cassie put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Agustin Ramírez laced an RBI double plating Pintar cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Redbirds padded their lead in the third. Scott II (2) led off the frame with a solo blast.
The Jumbo Shrimp tied it up in the fourth. Etzel singled to lead off the inning and went to second on a wild pitch. Miller followed with a walk and Olmstead singled to load the bases. Serna grounded out, but Etzel scored to make it a one-run game. In the following at-bat, Cam Cannarella grounded into a fielder's choice and Miller scored the tying run.
Jacksonville and Memphis continue their series with Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. contest. RHP Karson Milbrandt (0-3, 6.39 ERA) will toe the mound for the Jumbo Shrimp and the Redbirds will counter with LHP Pete Hansen (1-4, 5.21 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on Bally Live, MLB.tv, MiLB.tv, and ESPN 690AM and www.ESPN690.com.
Gates open Saturday at 5 p.m. for Back to School Night and a water bottle giveaway. Stay hydrated with these sleek water bottles presented by Wolfson Children's Hospital. Be sure to get here early as the first 2,000 fans through the Main Gate on Georgia St. will be going home with a water bottle! **1 giveaway per person, NOT per ticket** *** Giveaways only available when entering at the Main Gate on Georgia St.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The 2025 International League and Triple-A National Champions, the Jumbo Shrimp call 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.