The Biloxi Shuckers took control early in a Southern League baseball game that started nearly two and a half hours late.
Biloxi scored four runs in the top of the first inning and used a three-run eighth to put away the Chattanooga Lookouts, 7-2, Friday night at AT&T Field.
The Shuckers' first three batters - Corey Ray, Troy Stokes Jr. and Keston Hiura - tripled, homered and doubled, and after Jake Gatewoood reached second base on a fielder's choice that resulted in Hiura being tagged out in a rundown, Lucas Erceg singled in Gatewood and eventually scored on a Mark McDowell single after a walk and a flyout.
The Lookouts got one run back in the bottom half of the first but could have had more. Sean Miller led off with a ground-rule double but was out at third on Jimmy Kerrigan's fielder's choice, and then Kerrigan was picked off first. But Brent Rooker doubled and scored on Chris Paul's single.
Singles by Tanner English, Kerrigan and Rooker cut the margin to 4-2 in the third inning, but that would be it for the home team. And a Gatewood walk, an Erceg double and two-out hits by McDowell, Luis Aviles Jr. and Ray made it 7-2 in the eighth.
Rooker and Paul each was 2-for-4 for Chattanooga (37-34). Kodi Medeiros (5-3) pitched the third through seventh innings for the Shuckers (42-30) and was credited with the win. He struck out eight batters while giving up five hits and an unearned run.
The series continues tonight with Superhero Night and fireworks. Game time is 7:15.