Around the Horn: La Stella's Longball Cements M-Braves Series Victory
August 15, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Josh Smith tied the Blue Wahoos' single-season strikeout record but surrendered two home runs as the Mississippi Braves won their fourth straight game 4-3 in front of 4,665 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. A towering blast by Yorman Rodriguez gave Smith some early breathing room as he cruised through four frames, but the M-Braves scored in three consecutive innings before second baseman Tommy La Stella rounded the bases for the second time in as many nights to cement the game. With the victory, Mississippi also sewed up the season series while dropping the Wahoos to six games behind first place at press time. Here are the highlights from the defeat as we go Around the Horn:
BIRTHDAY BASH: Yorman Rodriguez, who celebrated his twenty-first birthday tonight, drove a three-run home run deep to center field to open scoring in the third inning. The round-tripper was his third with the Wahoos and first with men on base as the outfielder stretched his hitting streak to a modest three games. He wasn't the only Wahoo celebrating a special night, however, with Jon Moscot enjoying his twenty-second birthday and pitching coach Tom Brown celebrating his forty-third wedding anniversary.
RECORD NIGHT: Josh Smith missed the quality start but still made his mark in the Blue Wahoos record books. The All-Star punched out eight batters to tie a franchise record for single-season strikeouts at 126. Going the distance with 113 pitches across seven innings, the workhorse leads both the Southern League and Reds organization in whiffs.
FUN FOR EVERYONE: The Wahoos welcomed famed entertainer Myron Noodleman tonight as the showman continues his 2013 national tour. The famous Clown Prince of Baseball worked the crowd and joined the grounds crew during their famed on-field dance routine. In the stands, the team debuted the Wahoo Waddle on Thirsty Thursday, introducing drink specials that criss-crossed the stadium over eight innings.
EXTRA, EXTRA: Of their combined seventeen hits, the Blue Wahoos and M-Braves slapped six extra-base knocks and three home runs. Shots by Edward Salcedo and Tommy La Stella, as well as a pair of singles by Mississippi starting pitcher Mitch Atkins, powered the third straight night of ten hits or more for the M-Braves. On the flip side, an opportunistic Wahoos offense slashed four doubles as five of their seven hits dropped for extras.
The Wahoos (25-27) look to salvage the series tomorrow with top Reds pitching prospect Robert Stephenson making his Double-A debut. The first pitch is tabbed for 7:00 PM with gates opening at 6:00 PM on Fan Friday, presented by WEAR-TV3. The first 2,000 fans through the gates can collect wall flags courtesy of Copy Products. Tune in to ESPN Radio (1450 AM and 101.1 FM) for streaming coverage or watch the live video feed available to online subscribers on MiLB.TV.
Southern League Stories from August 15, 2013
- Generals Trounce Biscuits 10-1, Taking Third Straight - Jackson Generals
- Baez Powers Smokies to Fifth Straight Victory - Knoxville Smokies
- Rain Soaked Night Ends in 2-0 Suns Loss - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- La Stella Powers Braves Past Wahoos in 4-3 Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits Lose Fifth Straight - Montgomery Biscuits
- Around the Horn: La Stella's Longball Cements M-Braves Series Victory - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Puckett Blasts Barons Past Suns in Continuation of Suspended Game - Birmingham Barons
- Trevor Miller Activated from DL, Dowd Transferred to A+ High Desert - Jackson Generals
- BayBears Upcoming Series - Mobile BayBears
- Huntsville Stars 2014 Schedule Released - Huntsville Stars
- Generals vs. Biscuits - Game Notes - August 15, 2013 - Jackson Generals
- Huntsville Stars 2014 Schedule Released - Huntsville Stars
- Barons Return To Regions Field For Five Game Series Against The Smokies - Birmingham Barons
- M-Braves Win 14-Inning Marathon in Pensacola - Mississippi Braves
- Wahoos Fall 3-2 in 14 Innings - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Around the Horn: M-Braves Keep the Faith in Wild Fourteen-Frame Game - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Stars No-Hit By BayBears - Huntsville Stars
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.
