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Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Pensacola Wins Third Straight, 7-6

July 24, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Bryson Smith broke an 0-for-15 slump since returning to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos lineup in Hollywood-type fashion.

Smith belted a grand slam in the third inning that put the Wahoos ahead, 7-2, against Southern League South Division leader the Mobile BayBears. Pensacola held on to win its third straight game, 7-6, Thursday in front of a sellout crowd at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos took their first series in the second half with the dramatic win.

It was the right fielder's first RBI since June 15, 2013. That's when Smith made an all-out play that cost him the second half of last season and a majority of this one. Chasing down a fly ball, he climbed the right field wall and his foot got stuck in the fencing's padding, tearing every ligament in his ankle and shattering his fibula in six places. Smith still managed to catch the ball.

Smith hoped to play through the injury this season but went back on the DL on April 25 because of bone chips as a result of the surgery to repair the initial breaks. He was activated July 7 and sent to High-A Bakersfield before rejoing the Wahoos July 18.

"A fairytale would have been in my first at bat back, not my 20th," said a smiling Smith, who still has no feeling on the outside of his leg and foot. "It's a relief. It's been a year since I've felt good. I'm still not 100 percent now, but I'm just glad to be playing."

Before the injury, Smith was a career .308 hitter in his three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He admits it's a miracle to be back in the game he loves and still trying to reach the Major Leagues one day. Smith plans to get a lot of rest in the offseason and lots of at bats in winter ball.

"To God be the glory that I'm here and talking to you," he said. "I definitely have not given up hope. I know I can do it. My goal is to be in Cincinnati."

Travis Mattair, Smith's roommate, remembers watching the horrific accident, He says he will also remember Smith's grand slam.

"I'm so excited for him," Mattair said. "That was a big one tonight. We're all happy to see it."

Pensacola Blue Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields said he wishes Smith the best of luck in his long comeback.

"I'm really glad to see him here," DeShields said. "He's a very fortunate young man to just be here playing baseball still. I think he has been pressing a little bit but it was good to see him get one tonight."

For the second consecutive game, Mobile's shortstop Nate Sansom started the game with a home run driving a 95 mph fastball from Pensacola starting pitcher Robert Stephenson over the left field fence. Stephenson settled down getting 11 outs in a row at one point before exiting after 4.1 innings of work and seven strikeouts. In all, five Wahoos pitchers combined for 15 Ks.

Pensacola immediately came back with two runs in the bottom of the first and then got five more in the third inning, including four on Smith's shot to leftfield.

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