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Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Mobile Takes Series Opener against Pensacola, 6-3

July 21, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - Minor league baseball's strikeout kings for most of the season went head-to-head Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The result? The Pensacola Blue Wahoos Ben Lively retook the strikeout mantle with four strikeouts for 135 on the year. But the Mobile BayBears Aaron Blair had 9 Ks to up his total to 134 on the season and got the win in his Double-A debut.

Plus, Blair earned the first hit off Lively in the game in the fifth inning with a bloop single to left field.

Mobile won the opening game of the five-game series, 6-3, extending its winning streak to seven games. The BayBears are now 44-4 when leading after the seventh inning and the first half Southern League South Division winners now lead the second half, too, with a 20-9 record and are 62-36 overall.

Meanwhile, Pensacola fell to 10-21 in the second half and 41-60 overall.

Lively, who fell to 0-4, was trying for his first win at Double-A with the Wahoos, but left the game after walking the first two batters in the seventh and reliever Carlos Gonzalez allowed one of those BayBears to score. Lively did not allow a hit for the first 4.1 innings and only gave up two singles but ended up walking seven.

Blair, the Diamondbacks No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, said his debut win was even more special since he and Lively have known each other for four years, playing in the same division in college, pitching as teammates for the same team in Cape Cod League (summer collegiate) and facing each other in High-A.

"It was about as good a debut as you can hope for," Blair said. "It was cool getting to pitch and hit against a good friend."

Lively, a Gulf Breeze product, said he feels no pressure about getting his first win of the season for the Wahoos. Lively has allowed 25 walks, hit 2 batters and given up 23 hits in 30.2 innings for Pensacola, so far.

"Once I have good games and not give up a lot of free passes and put up zeros the wins will start coming," he said. "If I make the right pitches, I can get anybody out."

Pensacola manager Delino DeShields gave Lively a pep talk outside the locker room after the game, telling him to stay in control of his emotions.

"Ben, even though he walked seven guys, still gave us a good game," DeShields said. "I'm still waiting for him, and I don't want to say this the wrong way, to control his emotions. I think it's getting the better of him sometimes."

Pensacola kept from getting shutout for the 11th time when catcher Ross Perez hit a two-out, three-run shot over the right field wall that made the final score, 6-3.

GAME NOTES

The second game of the five-game series with Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate the Mobile BayBears gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. RHP Daniel Corcino (8-8, 4.36) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP Mike Lee (6-4, 4.14).

It's Daddy-Daughter Date Night when dads can treat their daughters to a fairytale evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Events include a pre-game princess parade, costume contest, tiaras and bracelets for the little ladies, a princess meal and a Chase the Prince game between innings. The Inflatamaniacs will be at the game the entertain fans throughout the night. The special night is capped off with the special choreographed Fireworks Extravaganza after the game, which are presented thanks to Wells Fargo.

The game will be broadcast live on radio on ESPN Pensacola at 101.1 FM and 1450 AM. You can also stream the game at MILB.TV.

BIG FISH Wahoos catcher Ross Perez went 2-3 with a three-run home run, which was his fourth on the season...Kyle Waldrop started his second game at first base and went 1-4 with a single and scored a run...Shortstop Devin Lohman doubled and was 1-3 at the plate...Third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean was 1-4 with a single.

100TH SELLOUT The Pensacola Blue Wahoos plan to soon celebrate the 100th sellout in team history. In just their third season, the Wahoos earned their 98th sellout on Saturday, July 12 against the Montgomery Biscuits. The 100th milestone will also be the 29th sellout of the 2014 season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The Wahoos surpassed the 200,000 mark for the third consecutive season on Thursday, July 10. Only the Birmingham Barons and Jacksonville Suns have also reached that mark in three straight seasons since 2012. Entering Monday's game, the Wahoos had drawn 223,555 fans, which is third highest in the Southern League behind Birmingham and Jacksonville. There are 20 home games left this year.

VOTE FOR KAZOO Pensacola Blue Wahoos fans can help Kazoo retain his title of Mascot Champion of the Southern League! Minor League Baseball is running its Mascot Mania program that allows fans to choose the best mascot.

To vote online, simply go to www.milb.com and vote for Kazoo! Additionally, fans can also vote up to 25 times per day via Twitter (original tweets or re-tweets). The tweets should include @MiLB, #MascotMania, and #VoteKazooBlueWahoos. Voting for Round 1 runs until the morning of Monday, Aug. 4.

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