SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Barons Defeat Pensacola, 5-1, Ending Wahoos Two-Game Win Streak

Published on May 25, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - When starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen left the game after seven innings, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos trailed the Birmingham Barons by only one run, 2-1.

By the end of Sunday's game, Birmingham left the field with a 5-1 victory in the finale of a five-game series at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

It was a familiar story to Lorenzen-a stingy offense. In his 10 starts this season, only three have come with more than three runs. Plus, both runs the Barons scored came on misplayed fly balls by centerfielder Yorman Rodriguez, normally known for his excellent defense and arm that's rated the best in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

"Those things are out of my control," Lorenzen said. "I could get mad and negative about it but that does not help me be successful. Plays just happen. The bug hit him twice, and I was like, 'Man.'"

On a positive note, Lorenzon threw 5 innings without allowing a hit in his last start, and then another 3.1 innings Sunday for 8.1 straight no-hit innings over his last two starts. He finally gave up a double to the Barons Trayce Thompson which scored Dan Wagner, who had reached third on the first Rodriguez error.

"I try to throw a no-hitter every game out there," Lorenzen said. "We were talking about it. It was a little frustrating" not to go nine innings without allowing a hit.

Wahoos manager Delino DeShields singled Lorenzen out after the game. "That kid is going to be a big league pitcher one day. Every time he throws I see something a little different."

After Pensacola third baseman Juan Silverio hit his third solo homerun to left field in five at bats over the past two games to tie the game at 1 in the fifth inning, the Barons added another run in their very next at bat. Wagner led off with a double and scored to make the score, 2-1, on a deep fly ball by Thompson to centerfield that Rodriguez ran back on but dropped. The Barons added three more in the eighth inning for the 5-1 win.

Notes: The Blue Wahoos start a five-game series Monday against the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss. Scheduled to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos is RHP Daniel Corcino (4-4, 3.91) and Braves RHP Williams Perez (3-3, 1.67). They play at home again against the Jacksonville Suns at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31.

Russian Bar Trio Performance wowed the Blue Wahoos crowd. They performed along the first and third base lines in the second, third, fifth, sixth and ninth innings.

They combine the gymnastic skills of the balance beam, the rebound tempo skills of trampoline and the swing handstands skills of the uneven bars and the parallel bars. The acrobatic act includes two porters, who hold the flexible bar and help guide the aerial movements of the flyer, who performs all the high-flying moves.

Billed as the "newest sensation in baseball," flyer, Genevieve Tougas, and porters, Yves Gagnon and Marco Dieckmann, are performing on their first ever baseball circuit after getting rave reviews on "America's Got Talent," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and "Oprah.

Pensacola fans oohed and ahhed when the barefoot Tougas swung herself through a hula hoop and did a triple somersault, among other gravity-defying moves. "We got noticed on TV and here we are in Pensacola," Dieckmann said.

If manager Delino DeShields had any hair, he would have pulled it all out by now. DeShields talked to his relief corps before Saturday's game. As a group they've converted just 12 of 21 save opportunities this year.

"We had a little chit chat," DeShields said. "Unfortunately, if things don't change, there will be change."

However, Saturday night after his pep talk he was pleased with the bullpen. That's because Shane Dyer earned a team-leading fifth save and combined with three other relievers-Fabian Williamson, Elvin Ramirez and Drew Hayes-to pitch 5.2 innings of one-hit, no-run ball.

Dyer said the talk was a "reality check" but appreciated. "It's the manager doing his best to fire up the team and pull us together," he said. "When you get your leader fired up about you not executing your role out of the bullpen, it opens your eyes. You realize, hey, something needs to change and you need to get better."

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Southern League Stories from May 25, 2014


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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