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 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Pensacola Stops Braves in 1-0 Win

August 25, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - Thanks to Tim Adleman and the Pensacola defense, the Blue Wahoos pulled back within half a game of the Southern League South Division lead behind the Mississippi Braves.

Needing just one run, Adleman threw six scoreless innings and Pensacola held on for a, 1-0, victory over front-runner Mississippi in front of 4,222 Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

It was Adleman's second, 1-0, victory over Mississippi with the last coming on June 27. In the second half of the season, Adleman is 7-2 with a 1.90 ERA after playing in the Southern League All-Star game. He improved to 9-8 with a Southern League-leading 2.12 ERA.

"I told you," Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said. "We got him one and that was plenty. He wasn't sharp today but he just battled and battled."

Meanwhile, Pensacola closer Zack Weiss entered the game with one out in the eighth inning and earned a franchise record 23 saves, surpassing the 22 Shane Dyer saved last season.

"You give him the ball and you know the game is over," Kelly said. "That's a great feeling as a manager."

Pensacola, playing in its first playoff race in franchise history, is now 32-26 and in sole possession of second place after dropping the first two games of the five-game series to Mississippi. The Braves are 32-25 in the second half. The Mobile BayBears lost to the Biloxi Shuckers and fell to 30-27 and third place.

The Blue Wahoos went ahead, 1-0, when first baseman Ray Chang scored with the bases loaded on a walk by shortstop Alex Blandino. The run stood up with great defense from the outfielders and crucial double plays. The squad has a league leading 153 double plays this season.

In the fifth inning, Mississippi pinch hitter Emerson Landoni hit a broken bat blooper that Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin charged and then threw the baseball on a rope to catcher Kyle Skipworth at home plate to nail the Braves' Sean Godfrey trying to score.

In the eighth inning, Pensacola right fielder Juan Duran slid to catch a soft liner and it popped out of his glove. But he jumped up and threw Braves center fielder Matt Lipka out trying to reach second.

In the same inning, Weiss struck out Mississippi right fielder KD Kang and Skipworth caught second baseman Levi Hyams going to second. It was a boom, boom double play.

Both Adleman and Kevin Shackleford started double plays from the mound in the second and seventh innings, respectivelly.

For Kelly it was a routine day at the ball park.

"The key to our club is playing great defense," Kelly said. "Our pitchers fielded their positions today. Whenever you can get two outs on one pitch, that's huge."

Weiss said he was happy to set the Pensacola record but even happier to pitch well in a game with playoff ramifications.

"It's a pretty special experience," the 23-year-old said. "When you're competing for a playoff spot, every pitch is a big pitch in a series like this. The record is cool but tonight was pretty much a must win."

GAME NOTES

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the fourth game of a five-game series at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the Mississippi Braves. LHP Cody Reed (3-2, 3.34) is scheduled to take the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Braves RHP Stephan Janas (1-6, 5.00).

It's time for the final Wednesday Night Fireworks of the season. Presented by Budweiser, enjoy the best firework show on the Gulf Coast.

Come to Kamp Kikiwahoo to celebrate Outdoorsman Night with the Blue Wahoos.

The Silver Wahoos, the Blue Wahoos dancing group who are presented by the Retirement Planners, will perform at Wednesday's game. Register to be the Retiree of the Game on the concourse.

The games are broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station NewsRadio1620 (WNRP-AM). Listen for free at bluewahoos.com and by using the TuneIn Radio app on your mobile, desktop or home devices. Stream Wahoos games on MiLB.TV, a subscription-based service provided by Minor League Baseball.

BIG FISH Left fielder Jesse Winker has hit in 16 of his 21 games this month. He went 1-3 with a walk tonight and is hitting .347 (26-75) in August...Pensacola shortstop Alex Blandino laid off a high fastball to walk and score first baseman Ray Chang with the only and winning run...Chang, who was 1-2 with a walk, hit a sharp grounder to right field in the fourth and scored the Wahoos' run.

JOCKETTY TALKS FUTURE The start of the Major League Baseball expanded roster is Sept. 1 and Cincinnati Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty and his staff came to Pensacola to assess the prospects at its Double-A affiliate.

Earlier this week, Cincinnati had a meeting to forecast what the team might look like in the next two, three and five years and when players in its farm system may be ready to play in the big leagues.

"A lot of these guys on this club now, I see playing in Cincinnati," Jocketty said before Tuesday's game at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. "We probably are rushing these kids a lot more than we used to. During my days with Oakland, we moved a lot of guys from Double-A. They were the basis of the club that went to three World Series in the late '80s."

One of the positions the Reds would like to strengthen is the outfield, Jocketty said, after it takes care of a few 40-man roster issues.

The Reds are interested in left fielder Jesse Winker, right fielder Juan Duran and center fielder Phillip Ervin. Winker has hit .302 in the second half of the season. Duran has 22 extra base hits since joining the club in July, which is fourth in the Southern League during that span. Ervin, called up Aug. 20 from High-A Daytona Tortugas, has hit two homers in his first six games with Pensacola.

Jocketty said he liked Pensacola right-handed starter Tim Adleman (9-8, 2.12) as a likely long reliever with the Reds. He also mentioned shortstop Alex Blandino and catcher Kyle Skipworth having a future in Cincinnati.

"He's a guy that we'll look at this year or next year being a part of our bullpen," he said. "He throws a lot of strikes and that's important. We've just seen him mature and develop into a really good, strong pitcher."

Jocketty said he likes Cincinnati's relationship with the Pensacola club.

"I was surprised they got off to such a poor start," he said. "I knew in the second half they would be better. Hopefully, they can win this division."

Come experience the family-fun entertainment for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos with Wednesday Fireworks and Thirsty Thursday against the Mississippi Braves this week! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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