Shrimp Bites: Jumbo Shrimp face Norfolk in baseball series

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp return to VyStar Ballpark for their last home series of May, meeting the Norfolk Tides in Triple-A baseball. Here's what fans need to know.

Who: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Norfolk Tides.

When: May 19-24.

• TU: 7:05 p.m.
• W: 12:05 p.m.
• TH: 7:05 p.m.
• F: 7:05 p.m.
• SA: 6:35 p.m.
• SU: 6:35 p.m.

Where: VyStar Ballpark.

Series recap: The Jumbo Shrimp found their best offensive production of the year, scoring 47 total runs and taking four of six games from the International League-leading Memphis Redbirds. That lifts Jacksonville to 24-21, just one game behind Rochester in the East, although they're still three games behind Memphis in the overall standings.

Highlight: With a 5-5 tie in the 10th inning, Graham Pauley whacked a two-run home run to right for the lead in what became a 7-6 Jumbo Shrimp victory. The home run was Pauley's second of the season.

Crustacean sensation: Matthew Etzel finished April with a .160 batting average, but he's been a new ballplayer since the calendar flipped to May. On a 10-game hitting streak, the 24-year-old outfielder out of Southern Miss is batting .340 for the month with four home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.107 OPS.

On deck: Norfolk, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, brings up the rear in the IL East and has the league's worst run differential at minus-62. They field a familiar name in 2022 No. 1 overall draft pick Jackson Holliday, on a rehab assignment from a hamate bone fracture sustained in spring training. The Tides' pitching staff includes two of the Orioles' top 10 prospects in Trey Gibson and Nestor German, both 24.

Ballpark fun: On May 23 and 24, it's Honey Drippers Weekend at the Ballpark, including Jacksonville Honey Drippers uniforms for the players and a Honey Drippers sunshield giveaway on Saturday. Also on the schedule will be Purr in the Park Night with cats at the ballpark on May 19, Filipino Heritage Night on May 21 and EMS Appreciation Night on May 22.

Probable pitchers Tuesday: Jacksonville's Dax Fulton (2-2, 7.56 ERA) vs. a Norfolk pitcher to be determined.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp-Norfolk, May 19 series preview