Biloxi Takes Over First After Beating Mobile

Jay Chapman picked up his second win of the season in relief, and Wirfin Obispo recorded his fifth save of the season as the Biloxi Shuckers defeated the Mobile BayBears 4-3 Monday afternoon.

The battle for first place in the Southern League’s South Division got just a little more serious as the Shuckers and BayBear wrapped up their five-game series.  As it stands right now after winning the last two, Biloxi (16-9) holds a half-game advantage over Mobile (15-9).

Yoan Lopez, Arizona Diamondbacks fifth ranked prospect, started the game for Mobile and allowed just one hit, three walks, and no runs over five innings. The Cuban defector has been improving a touch so far in his limited North American professional career, with today being his best outing to date.

The BayBears offense put Lopez in position to win his second game of the season, getting on the board early in the first after a lead-off double by Tom Belza followed by an RBI single by Brandon Drury.  Mobile would add one more run on an RBI single by Rudy Flores.

The game was then left up to Mobile’s bullpen who couldn’t hold on.  Biloxi tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring two runs on four hits all off of Mobile’s R.J. Hively.  The BayBears would strike again quickly to regain the lead about as fast as they lost it in the top half of the seventh inning.  Brandon Drury hit a triple and would later score on a fielding error by Orlando Arcia giving Mobile a 3-2 lead.

Will Locante came in the game for Mobile in the bottom half of the eighth to help preserve the lead, but the Shuckers wouldn’t have any part of that.  An RBI double by Arcia would tie the game at 3-3 and would avenge his error from a couple innings prior.  Biloxi would take the lead for good after an RBI single by Nathan Orf.

Wirfin Obispo came in and shut the door on the game preserving the 4-3 win, and propelling the Shuckers back into first place.

Biloxi is off Tuesday and will return home for a five-game series against the Mississippi Braves.  Mobile remains in the friendly confines of Hank Aaron Stadium as they play host to the Jacksonville Suns.