Jim Goulart

VIDEO via WLOX: BayBears hand Shuckers first loss in new ballpark

Final: Mobile 4, Biloxi 2 Missed opportnuties cost Shuckers in 4-2 loss to BayBears Nathan Orf sets franchise mark by extending hit streak to 12 games Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/1/6/129254916/cuts/_BRP4242_xbdzvhqo_14xjnd6m.jpg Nathan Orf extended his hitting streak to a franchise-best 12 games on Sunday (Benton Reed Photography) BILOXI, MS - The Shuckers out-hit the Mobile BayBears 10-8 on Sunday, but fell, 4-2, suffering their first loss at MGM Park. The Shuckers maintain a 3.5 game lead over the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League South Division, and the magic number to clinch the division has gone down to 10 after the Braves' loss to the Montgomery Biscuits. Third baseman Nathan Orf was 2-for-2 and set a franchise mark by extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Orf passed Kyle Wren and Yadiel Rivera who posted 11-game hit streaks this season. Orf is batting .381 over the 12-game streak which is the longest currently in the circuit. Mobile (29-17) got on the board first for a second consecutive game, putting up a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Gabriel Guerrero. The BayBears extended their lead to three with two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back RBI base knocks off the bats of Gerson Montilla and Brandon Drury. Biloxi starter Hobbs Johnson (L, 3-3, 5 IP, 3 R, 7 H, BB, 4 SO) cruised through the first three innings, facing one over the minimum, but ran into trouble in the one-run fourth and two-run fifth, keeping him short of his first quality start of the season. The Shuckers are now 7-4 in the Rocky Mount, NC native's starts. Manager Carlos Subero had to go to the bullpen in the sixth, calling upon Martin Viramontes. The righty worked two innings of shutout ball, walking just one and picking up a strikeout to keep the Shuckers within reach. Biloxi (34-22) trailed by three going into the seventh and went into the eighth with just a one-run deficit. Parker Berberet (1x3, R, BB) led off the inning with a single and scored on a double by Brandon Macias (1x3, RBI, R, 2B). Wren (2x5, RBI, 2B) kept the line moving with an RBI base hit up the middle to bring in Macias and bring the Shuckers within a run. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has eight multi-hit games in his last 13 played. Manny Barreda (IP, R, H, SO) surrendered a run on a wild pitch in the eighth, after Guerrero hit a one-out triple to set up the scoring situation. Jacob Barnes worked a clean ninth to keep the Shuckers at a two-run disadvantage at two entering the final half inning. BayBears' reliever Jimmy Sherfy picked up his first save of the season, setting down Berberet, Macias and Wren in order to close out the game. Diamondbacks' No. 3 prospect Aaron Blair (6-2) worked six innings and struck out five, earning his sixth win, which ties him for the league-lead. The Shuckers ended up stranding eight runners on base and were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Baybears thrived in scoring situations Sunday going 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Shuckers Opening Series at MGM Park continues through Wednesday, with 7:10 PM starts each night. Biloxi will send out RHP Brooks Hall (5-3, 3.78) against Mobile's RHP Braden Shipley (3-4, 4.64) on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:55 on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com. Biloxi Box Score Nathan Orf was HBP 22 times at Brevard County last year, this was only #4 thus far in 2015. Yet, his .376 OBP this season isn't far below his career .397 mark. Biloxi Game Log

Final: Colorado Springs 4, Omaha 0 Sox Pitching Dominates Omaha In 4-0 Win Colorado Springs' Staff Allows Just Six Hits, Combines to Strikeout Nine Storm Chasers By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/5/4/118154654/cuts/04_13_002sm_pk_hqyx71kq_c9yak7px.jpg Tyler Cravy tossed six scoreless innings of six-hit ball in his first start back with the Sox since an excellent MLB debut last week. (File Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly) The Sky Sox rode dominant pitching and two, two-run innings to a 4-0 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers before a crowd of 6,035 at Werner Park on Sunday afternoon. Colorado Springs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Storm Chasers starter Casey Coleman (0-2, 4.46) thanks to an RBI double from the recently returned Elian Herrera and an RBI single by Nevin Ashley. The Sox would tally four hits in the frame while Omaha's defense struggled with two errors. Coming off an excellent MLB debut that saw him toss seven innings of one-run ball against the NL-leading St. Louis Cardinals, Sky Sox starter Tyler Cravy (6-4, 3.60) turned in another spectacular outing. The right-hander allowed just six hits over six innings, striking out three and walking none in the scoreless effort. The Sox tacked on two more in the top of the sixth against Omaha reliever Clayton Mortensen, who came on in relief of Coleman in the top of the fifth. Ashley opened the inning with a walk before Matt Long doubled, giving Colorado Springs runners on second and third. Yadiel Rivera followed with a groundout, failing to advance the runners and bring Logan Schafer to the plate with a prime opportunity to extend the lead. The centerfielder did just that, smacking a two-run single off of Mortensen to give the Sky Sox a 4-0 lead that they would maintain until game's end. Mortensen and Coleman would each toss four innings of two-run ball with Coleman allowing six hits to Mortensen's five. Ariel Pena and Jim Henderson would close out the Sox win in dominating fashion as the two combined to toss three perfect innings, striking out six Omaha batters along the way. In fact, Sox pitching would team up to strike out nine total batters while allowing just six total hits in the 4-0 win over the Storm Chasers. Colorado Springs recorded 12 total hits as each starter reached base safely at least once while Pete Orr, Ashley, Long and Schafer collected the team's multi-hit games. With the win, the Sky Sox improve to 23-32 as they drop Omaha to a .500 record at 29-29. The Sox will look to make it four-in-a-row on Monday night as they square off with Omaha in game three of this four-game set. Tyler Thornburg (1-2, 3.98) matches up against Storm Chasers right-hander Yohan Pino (3-2, 6.49) with first pitch set for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central) at Werner Park. Colorado Springs Box Score Hop on board the Cravy train -- darn ten-days in AAA option rules; good luck, Taylor Jungmann, you'll have to excel to keep Tyler Cravy from getting the next 5th starter spot chance. Was Jungmann chosen over Tyler Thornburg because it would be less of an insult to option him right back after the game than the more-veteran Thornburg? Regardless, Jungmann's been a quiet pro since his draft day, a reward for him Tuesday... Colorado Springs Game Log

From Saturday, with a few quotes: Ratterree’s walk-off helps Manatees split doubleheader

Banda twirls first complete-game shutout No. 25 D-backs prospect scatters five hits over nine frames for Visalia By Ashley Marshall / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/6/129197476/cuts/banda960_l1ahaodk_f2mf4sv8.jpg Anthony Banda lowered his California League ERA to 3.90 in Sunday's outing. (Ken Weisenberger/MiLB.com) Pitching in the hitter-friendly California League has been a new experience for Arizona southpaw Anthony Banda. On Sunday, he continued to learn about what it takes to succeed at that level. Arizona's No. 25 prospect scattered five hits and a walk while striking out five batters over nine innings in the Visalia Rawhide's 3-0 win over the host Bakersfield Blaze at Sam Lynn Ballpark. It was Banda's first complete-game shutout of his four-year professional career, which has included 50 starts and 16 relief appearances. "I've never thrown a shutout before, so obviously it was a great one and I could not ask for more," he said. "As a team, we played very well and I had great defense behind me. "By far, this is the best start of my career. Anybody will agree with me that if you throw a complete-game shutout or whatever, it'll be the best start of your career unless you have something better like a perfect game or something like that." Banda (5-3) faced four batters about the minimum and didn't allow a runner to reach third base in tossing the first complete-game shutout in the Cal League this year. Selected by the Brewers in the 10th round of the 2012 Draft, he worked around a two-out walk to Tim Lopes in the first inning and a one-out single to Kyle Petty in the second before setting down the next eight batters. Petty and Carlton Tanabe singled in the fifth, but Banda struck out Aaron Barbosa, and he rolled an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to erase Rayder Ascanio's bunt single in the sixth. Barbosa singled with two outs in the eighth, but the 21-year-old Texas native set down 10 of the final 11 batters he faced to complete the shutout. "It was mainly a mix of everything, but you have to start by establishing the fastball and showing them you can throw to both sides of the plate and locate where you need to," Banda said. "I threw the curveball for strikes and expanded the zone when I needed to and made them chase the pitches I wanted them to. Everything was really spot-on and the fastball was what established everything. "I threw the curveball in counts where we thought it would be good, such as 0-1 or 2-1, or in fastball counts to get them to roll over or pop it up or something. When I got back to even or ahead, I'd put them away with a fastball or expand the zone with a breaking ball." The 6-foot-2 hurler has had mixed success in his first year at the new level. For every start in which he's posted zeros, there has been another in which he's allowed four or more runs. After starting the year 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his first three outings, Banda then allowed 23 runs over his next six starts, including six runs over four innings in Rancho Cucamonga on May 5 and six more in Lake Elsinore on May 21, when he failed to make it out of the first inning. Since then, things have been better. He spun five shutout innings against the Blaze on May 27 and allowed two earned runs -- five in total -- against Modesto on Monday. "[it is] the tempo," Banda said of the difference between his good and bad starts. "Having a good tempo continuously and being aggressive and having confidence in what I can do and what I'm able to do. No matter what happens -- good, bad or indifferent -- I have to stay aggressive. I have to stay within myself and battle through and show the team I'm going to fight for [them]." Visalia left fielder Alex Glenn went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, catcher Tyler Baker collected two hits and center fielder Breland Almadova contributed a run and an RBI out of the No. 9 spot. Bakersfield starter Brett Ash (2-4) allowed three runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and a walk while striking out one batter over six innings. *** Only comment from me at this time is that Banda will rank much higher than #25 on the D-Backs list heading into 2016. - MH

Two HBP's and a balk, but scoreless in his Wisconsin debut -- Fort Wayne Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Zach Cooper replaces Cy Sneed. Nick Vilter hit by pitch. Jose Ruiz hit by pitch. Nick Vilter to 2nd. Felipe Blanco bunt pops out to first baseman Alan Sharkey. With Ruddy Giron batting, Nick Vilter advances to 3rd on a balk. Jose Ruiz advances to 2nd on a balk. Ruddy Giron lines into a double play, pitcher Zach Cooper to second baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Jose Ruiz doubled off 2nd.

Via Chris Mehring, voice of the Rattlers: Transactions -- RHP Zach Cooper has been signed to a minor league contract and will join Wisconsin. RHP Orlando Torrez has been transferred to the Arizona roster. *** Cooper is a 5'10" 25-year-old who had been pitching with AA Montgomery in the Tampa system until his May 24th release. He was drafted in the 15th round out of Central Michigan University in 2012 by the Phillies. Here's what Baseball America had to say about him when he was drafted: A successful starter at Central Michigan since midway through his sophomore season in 2010, Cooper profiles as a reliever in pro ball. He's just 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds and lacks the command to stick in a pro rotation, but he has the stuff to be a weapon out of the bullpen. He can maintain a 91-93 mph fastball deep into games and has hit 95 in the past, so his velocity figures to increase in shorter stints. He flashed a wipeout slider in the past but it's more of an average pitch now, occasionally flattening out. The Phillies released the hard-throwing Cooper after he saw action in 56 games, pitching 82 1/3 innings. In those frames, he had 64 strikeouts against 39 walks with a 2.84 career ERA. Cooper was prepared to continue his career in the independent Frontier League when the Rays purchased his contract in April of 2014. Chris Cotillo tweet at the time -- Source: Former #Phillies RHP Zach Cooper has contract purchased by #Rays after throwing 95-98 mph, hitting 99 in Frontier League. Cooper posted rather middling-to-poor numbers with Charlotte in the Florida State League last year - 22 relief appearances covering only 24.1 innings (24 H, 3 HR, 12 BB, 22 K, 5.92 ERA), yet saw action in the Arizona Fall League after the season, where his struggles continued - nine appearances covering 10.1 innings (13 H, 12 R, 0 HR, 9 BB, 2 HBP, 3 K, 10.45 ERA). Via DRaysBay.com - An AFL PITCHf/x profile of Zach Cooper It was a dreadful exposure to AA this spring for Cooper - ten appearances covering 14 innings (24 H, 14 R, 5 HR, 10 BB, 6 K). Already posed for his MiLB.com Timber Rattler photo -- http://www.milb.com/images/605190/t572/180x270/605190.jpg From this article at Rays Colored Glasses -- The Rays really did everything they could with Zach Cooper. They signed him after he had been released by the Philadelphia Phillies because they saw two promising pitches, his mid-90’s fastball and his slider. Even after he managed a 5.92 ERA in 22 High-A appearances, they sent him to the Arizona Fall League and gave him another chance to establish himself. He failed, and now he is gone. Will another team take a gamble on him like the Rays did? It is crazy how many pitchers with great stuff can’t get out of the minors. Cooper’s issue is, like most of them, horrific command. He walked 4.4 batters per 9 innings at High-A, but that is nothing compared to his 9-19 strikeout to walk ratio in 24.1 innings between the AFL and Double-A. However, it isn’t as though Cooper doesn’t have the talent to make the major leagues. Could he forgive himself for giving up knowing that maybe the next organization might have fixed him? The next step for Cooper may be independent ball if the answer to that question is “no.” *** So now the Brewers assign Cooper to Wisconsin, not Brevard County, to see what they have. Heading to Maryvale is RHP Orlando Torrez, the 23-year-old Dominican native who had walked 22 and struck out 16 in 33.2 innings with Wisconsin (4.81 ERA), his first year of full-season ball after four Domincan Summer League seasons.

Tyrone Taylor doubles in a run in Biloxi's 6-2 win Friday at Birmingham

Colorado Springs' Matt Long homers in the Sky Sox's 9-7 Saturday win over Omaha

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog *** STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League South Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division *** Sortable individual stat pages: Colorado Springs Biloxi Brevard County Wisconsin *** Weather.com: Omaha, NE Biloxi, MS Grand Chute, WI

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Colorado Springs Biloxi Wisconsin MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

DVR ALERT! Not Sunday, but Monday night's Timber Rattlers game is on MyNew32 TV, 7:00 PM airtime.

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Tyler Cravy at Omaha (Royals), 1:35 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link We welcome Dan Karcher, who is the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox; follow him on Twitter @SkySoxKarch MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup. ********** Biloxi: LHP Hobbs Johnson at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 4:55 PM pre-game, 5:10 gametime Free Live Audio Link We also welcome Chris Harris as the very first play-by-play voice of the Shuckers! Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be looking off to his very promising "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast. MiLB.TV - Seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi staff indicates it is hopeful it will be eight when the new stadium opens. ********** Brevard County: Idle ********** Wisconsin: RHP Cy Sneed at home vs. Fort Wayne (Padres), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link - WNAM Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity. So, for the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sky Sox games, most Shuckers games, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. *** DSL Brewers: Idle We'll link to this Dominican Summer League Brewers' thread as part of the Daily Menu all season to assist you with your familiarity with these young men.

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VIDEO: Construction crews and Shuckers staff worked through the night to get ready for game day

Biloxi Shuckers' homecoming a success for all involved PATRICK MAGEE, Biloxi Sun-Herald Biloxi Shuckers first baseman Nick Ramirez wandered around the infield at MGM Park Saturday afternoon well before the first fans wandered into the new stadium. First, he took photos with his smart phone. Second, he bounced a ball off the infield dirt to test the surface. Third, he cleared the right field fence with ease during batting practice. What was the slugger's verdict on the Shuckers' new home following a 54-game road trip? "It's awesome," Ramirez said with a wide grin. "It's like the first day of school." Each of the Shuckers echoed Ramirez in heaping praise upon the stadium located directly across the Beau Rivage on U.S. 90. "I think it's kind of in a league of its own," outfielder Michael Reed said. "It's beautiful." All the public debate and concern about progress on stadium construction gave way Saturday to what can easily be described as a rousing success for Biloxi with a sold out crowd. It wasn't always a smooth experience for the players and their fans. Fans escorted players to MGM Park Saturday afternoon only to find the front gate closed to the players. Before the Shuckers' lineup could be announced prior to the game, the sound system went down for about 5 minutes. There were also light moments. Jason Jakimczuk dodged a line drive in the bleachers before picking the ball up and balancing it on top of his beer bottle. While politicians and team owners patted each other on the back, the biggest beneficiaries of the opening of MGM Park Saturday were the players themselves. Even before the Shuckers played a game in front the home fans, they've proven themselves as winners with a first-place standing in the Southern League South. The Shuckers' landing at MGM Park comes at a good time for the team. With a chance to lock up a first-half title in the South, they will end the first half with 10 home games in the next 15 before the all-star break. Most of all for the players, it's simply a relief to have a place to put down their luggage for a while. For the last two months, the Shuckers have simply had to pick up and go after every series. "You kind of a have sense of home, a home without a home" Shuckers catcher Adam Weisenburger said. "As ball players, that's always the case. Even though you might be renting, it's nice to call it your bed for the time being." Shuckers manager Carlos Subero was just as thrilled as his players about the new stadium. He especially appreciated the new offices for coaches and the locker room. "It makes all this time away from home worth it," Subero said. "I think everybody in general is excited. Even people in the front office. They're excited to have a brand new ballpark for kids to develop in a great environment. It's very important to the city and they've been very supportive. Hopefully this will have an impact on the players' development." While the success of MGM Park will be determined in the years to come and there's still a good deal of work to be done on the stadium, it's off to a good start.

PHOTO GALLERY: Via Biloxi's WLOX

Shuckers pull off dramatic victory over BayBears By PATRICK MAGEE, Biloxi Sun-Herald More photos at the link... BILOXI - The Biloxi Shuckers won 33 of 54 on their two-month road trip entering Saturday's contest. On Saturday, they took full advantage of their first genuine home game at MGM Park. Nick Shaw capped a two-run rally with a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the 14th to give the Shuckers a 5-4 victory in the first game ever at MGM Park. Shaw and his teammates credited the crowd of 5,065 Saturday for helping keep the team in the long contest. "(The dugout) was positive the whole night just because of the support we got this afternoon," Shaw said. "Our guys are fighters. We pick each other up. There was never a doubt. Even down a run that inning, we were all pulling for each other." Left-hander Trevor Seidenberger threw two innings to pick up the win for the first-place Shuckers (34-21). Orlando Arcia singled and Nick Ramirez reached on a single error to start the bottom of the 14th to put men on first and third. With one out, pinch hitter Parker Berberet laid down a perfect bunt to first base. Mobile first baseman Rudy Flores fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw home was high and Arcia scored. Shaw set off a celebration among the remaining fans at MGM Park with his game-winning single to right. "It was awesome with the crowd pulling for us," Shaw said. "Normally, the crowd is telling us we're not any good playing on the road. It was fun to have something behind us." Mobile's Mitch Haniger, who played with the Huntsville Stars last year, had an RBI single in the ninth to tie the game and another in the 14th to keep the game going. Ramirez failed to track down a fly ball by Gabriel Guerrero in shallow right with two out in the top of the 14th, giving Mobile runners at first and third. Haniger followed with a single to give the BayBears the 4-3 lead, but it did not stand. Biloxi received another outstanding pitching performance from Tyler Wagner, who has developed into the ace of the staff. Six days after making his Major League debut in a bumpy outing with the Milwaukee Brewers, Wagner gave up one run on six hits in seven innings to improve to 6-1. "It was an awesome way (to open the park)," Wagner said. "We looked for a game like this and it happened." The former Utah star also had a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth. "The energy was there being able to feed off the fans," Wagner said. "That's something we haven't experienced all year. It was good to have the energy there for 14 innings. The whole team, we had good energy." LSU product Austin Ross came up short in a save opportunity for the Shuckers in the ninth, walking the first man he faced, Gerson Montilla. A two-out single by Haniger brought home Montilla to tie the game at 3-3. Manny Barreda replaced Ross and threw three scoreless innings to maintain the 3-3 tie entering the 13th. BayBears starting pitcher R.J. Hively, an Ole Miss product, proved tough to handle for the Shuckers early in the contest as Kyle Wren's infield single in the bottom of the first was the only Biloxi hit through four innings. With one out in the fifth, Nathan Orf finally figured out the right-hander with a deep drive to right center out of the reach of Mobile centerfielder Socrates Brito. Orf beat the throw into third for his second triple of the season. The next batter up, Taylor Green, grounded out to first and brought Orf home to tie the contest at 1-1. Hively lasted five innings, giving up one run on two hits. Wagner helped himself by doubling to right center off Mobile reliever Derek Eitel to start the bottom of the sixth. The next batter up, Wren, reached when Mobile second baseman Brandon Drury mishandled a grounder and Wren stole second soon after. Tyrone Taylor grounded out to second to plate Wagner and Arcia brought Wren home on a sacrifice fly to left field. After six innings, the Shuckers led 3-1. The Shuckers and BayBears resume the five-game series at 5:10 Sunday at MGM Park. Left-hander Hobbs Johnson (3-2, 3.26) will start for Biloxi and the BayBears will counter with right-handed ace Aaron Blair (5-2, 2.56).

Pregame power doesn't materialize in MGM Park debut Shuckers expect new ballpark to be hitter's paradise By PATRICK OCHS, Biloxi Sun-Herald More photos at the link... BILOXI -- The first crack of the bat Saturday at the brand new MGM Park was accompanied by plenty of excitement - at least from the hitters crowded around the batting cage. Outfielder Michael Reed pulled the first pitch of batting practice down the left field line and well over the netting beyond the yellow 325-foot marker on the wall. "That's history," Biloxi Shuckers manager Carlos Subero crowed from the other side of the batting cage. "I told them, 'hey, why not?' The first swing in the park, why not hit it out?" said Reed, the reigning Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Month. "I told (hitting coach Sandy Guerrero) to pitch it high and inside. "Like they were saying, the first game is history and will go down in the record books." The wind crossed the outfield from right to left during pregame, turning a few well-struck balls into no-doubters. Once the game started, only two balls even neared the warning track in left-center and none even dared to cut through the humid South Mississippi air with the wind instead blowing from left to right. Whichever way the wind blows, with 350-foot power alleys, players and officials alike expect balls to fly out of the brand new ballpark, but only time will tell. "I don't know if I believe those 350 out there yet. It looks a little further," Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin said, squinting at the yellow markers in the alleys. "It depends on how the ball carries. Miller Park is a hitter's park, Colorado Springs is a hitter's park. "We'll see what this is." Before leaving the playing surface, Reed had a few last-minute words of advice for those toeing the rubber at MGM Park: "Pitcher, keep it down," he deadpanned.

PHOTO GALLERY via the Biloxi Sun-Herald: GINORMOUS! Obviously one of the better galleries we've ever linked to... http://imgick.gulflive.com/home/gulf-media/width960/img/mississippi-press/photo/2015/06/07/-136fb311ebc8d779.jpg June 6, 2015: Biloxi Shuckers manager Carlos Subero (3) directs Biloxi Shuckers pitcher Brent Suter (24) to home plate for the winning run in a 14 inning inaugural home game in MGM Park during the Biloxi Shuckers versus Mobile Baybears baseball game Saturday night at MGM Park, Biloxi, MS. Photos by: Bobby McDuffie / gulflive.com

VIDEO: Biloxi Shuckers infielder Nick Shaw discusses his game-wining hit that lifted his team to a 5-4 14-inning walk-off win.

Biloxi stadium opens to rave reviews Mary Perez, Hattiesburg American A sellout crowd at MGM Park watches the debut home game for the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday. (Photo: Tim Isbell/The Sun-Herald) What an opening day for the Biloxi Shuckers. It was 86 degrees at game time, but even hotter earlier in the day when fans filled downtown for the organizers’ Game Day Experience pregame event. Warmest of all, though, was the welcome the Biloxi Shuckers got from their new hometown fans, who’d sold out MGM Park for the first home game. After 55 games on the road, the team didn’t arrive in Biloxi until 4 a.m. Saturday from an extra-innings win Friday night. They were back up and out for introductions early Saturday afternoon, and were gracious as wide-eyed kids handed over balls and caps for the players to autograph. “I know they’re tired but that will wake them up,” said Derek McIlvane, a video intern for the Milwaukee Brewers who has traveled with the team on their road trip. “This is a good team to be around.” The fans couldn’t know as they chatted with outfielder Kyle Wren, wearing No. 11, that he would later be MGM Park’s first Shuckers batter. Nor did the players know what awaited them as Black Water Brass Band and hundreds of fans escorted them from downtown to their new stadium a few blocks away. “I think it’s great for our players to see the enthusiasm,” team owner Ken Young said. For a team and a town, “even a regular opening day is a big thing in baseball. When you have a grand opening it’s just extra special.” And it was a grand opening. No complaints were heard about parking and “we didn’t mind walking,” said fan Tim Peterson, who drove over from Bay St. Louis along with Robert Holloway. The event drew fans from across the Coast, and Peterson said, “I think it’s South Mississippi’s team.” With Shuckers’ general manager Buck Rogers leading the chant of “Let’s play ball, y’all,” the gates opened at 5 p.m. The fans found their seats — and the concession stands, where they got their first taste of garlic butter oysters, barbecue nachos, hot dogs and lots of cold beer for the warm night. “I’m glad to be here,” Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said as he looked out over the stadium filling with people. “It’s a beautiful evening, a great stadium. This is one of those that’s historic.” Speeches on the field were short and Young’s salute to Tim Bennett’s 10 years of working to bring baseball to the community drew applause. Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin drew the biggest cheer when he said everyone at the Milwaukee Brewers home team is proud to be associated with Biloxi. It was his first time in the city in 42 years in baseball. Baseball was good for business Saturday in Biloxi. Joe Lancon, owner of the Biloxi Schooner Restaurant, handed out menus and welcomed fans inside. He’d bought the building on Howard Avenue just before 2005’s Hurricane Katrina and said, “I’ve been waiting 10 years for something like this.” He is expanding in the building, adding an oyster bar, an arcade and a poolroom.

Shuckers script a perfect homecoming On opening night at MGM Park, Biloxi rallies for walk-off win in 14th By Alex Kraft / MiLB.com After a 54-game road trip to open the season, the Biloxi Shuckers were ready to come home. And they could not have scripted a better christening for their new digs. In the first-ever game at Biloxi's MGM Park, the Shuckers fell behind in the 14th inning before rallying for a 5-4 win over the Mobile BayBears as Nick Shaw delivered a walk-off single. In front of a sellout crowd of 5,095, many of whom stuck around until the end, Biloxi battled back after squandering a 3-2 lead in the ninth and allowing Mobile to go ahead, 4-3, in the top of the 14th. "Those fans really made it exciting," Shuckers manager Carlos Subero said. "There was just a great vibe and a great energy. It wasn't about the numbers, they were excited. Their identity is with this team." The crowd, which included Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich, had seen its team exiled for two months. Even after striking a deal with the city to move up the completion date for MGM Park, the Shuckers became Southern League vagabonds, playing all of their games on the road or in their former home, Huntsville, Alabama. Despite the grueling travel schedule, Subero said his team never let it affect its play. "It didn't have an effect, and that was the great thing about it," he said. "We said we were not going to use the situation of playing a 54-game road trip as an excuse. They were right on it. There was not a time when our guys let down. That's a tribute to the character they have." In fact, the Shuckers returned home with the Southern League's best record. "I think we felt excitement more than pressure," Subero said. "Normally, you're in the middle of the season with about 60 games left, you're playing a team in third place and you want to focus on winning one game at a time. But they were more excited to bring Biloxi Shuckers baseball back to these fans." The fans' excitement grew as the game wore on, leading to some fun interaction between them and the team. "We were like, 'You guys wanted baseball? Let's see how resilient you are in game one,'" Subero said. "The number of fans that stayed 14 innings late and tomorrow's Sunday ... this is just the beginning." Players like first baseman Nick Ramirez also took notice of the Shuckers faithful. Via Twitter: "Wow what a way to break in the new stadium @BiloxiShuckers thank you to everyone that came out. The atmosphere was unreal! #biloxishuckers" "Tonight was a perfect script," Subero said. "To me, it's like a soap opera. There's a lot of drama but a great ending." The first plot twist came when the BayBears tied it in the ninth on Mitch Haniger's RBI single off Mike Strong. The Shuckers had a chance to end it in the bottom of the inning when Michael Reed walked and stole second with two outs, but Nathan Orf flied out. They threatened again the 11th when Kyle Wren, the Brewers' 17th-ranked prospect, stole third during an intentional walk with one out. But Ramirez and Reed struck out. After Mobile took the lead on another RBI single by Haniger, the stage was set for the dramatic finish as back-to-back singles by pinch-hitter Parker Berberet and Shaw triggered the celebration. "You play a 14-inning game," Subero said of the game he jokingly called the longest in MGM Park history, "and you not only come back, but you get a walkoff win? What more can you ask for a crowd that's been waiting so long for baseball?" Biloxi Box Score RHP Manny Barreda threw perfect 10th, 11th, and 12th innings; four Shucker fielding errors and a passed ball - bit of nerves?; time of game -- 4:44. Biloxi Game Log Forever in Shuckers history, winning rally -- Biloxi Bottom of the 14th Pitching Change: Adam Miller replaces Keith Hessler, batting 2nd. Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to second baseman Brandon Drury. Nick Ramirez reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Brandon Drury. Orlando Arcia to 3rd. Michael Reed strikes out swinging. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Parker Berberet replaces Trevor Seidenberger. Parker Berberet singles on a ground ball to first baseman Rudy Flores. Orlando Arcia scores. Nick Ramirez to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Brent Suter replaces Nick Ramirez. Nick Shaw singles on a line drive to right fielder Gabriel Guerrero. Brent Suter scores. Parker Berberet to 2nd.