Blue Wahoos Miss Opportunities, Fall in Another One-Run Loss to Smokies in Series Finale
May 26, 2024 - Southern League (SL)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Pensacola Blue Wahoos deliver a pitch
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos)
Pensacola, Fla. - Bennett Hostetler tossed his bat aside in frustration as the game's final out became a pop out.
It was that kind of day, this kind of week, as the Blue Wahoos fell 3-2 Sunday against the Tennessee Smokies, ending their homestand in a glum way and extending a difficult trend.
A capacity crowd (5,038) on Memorial Day weekend at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched the Smokies complete their fifth win of the six-game series. It was also the fifth consecutive one-run difference in the low-scoring games between these teams.
With their bats in continued slumber, the Blue Wahoos missed on rally chances in the seventh inning with bases loaded. And then in the eighth with two runners on base and one out.
The Blue Wahoos (23-22) will have the Monday holiday off, then a short road trip Tuesday to Biloxi in hopes of getting some offensive spark and stringing some wins. They are 3-9 in the past two series.
But away from the scoreboard, it was a weekend full of wins.
The Blue Wahoos filled the ballpark Sunday for the third consecutive day. It was the 13th capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium in 27 home games this season.
The pregame featured a parade of school children who completed the popular Kazoo's Reading Program. There was also a re-enlistment ceremony for a local resident joining the U.S. Air Force.
And, the Blue Angels again elicited a thunderous cheer when the famed jets buzzed over the stadium early in the game, after returning from a weekend show.
The sixth inning "roach run" had massive participation and a large portion of the crowd stayed to the end. Children ran the bases and families tossed soft baseballs in the outfield.
The Blue Wahoos again received quality pitching, this time from five different relievers on a pitching-by-bullpen-committee outing. Chandler Jozwiak, normally a middle reliever, absorbed a hard luck loss after working the first two innings and allowing a run on a sacrifice fly.
The Smokies (27-18) got their second run in the third inning on a leadoff triple by No. 9 hitter Josh Rivera, who then scored on Christian Franklin's sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos halved the deficit without getting a ball in play. Jorge Caballero was hit by a pitch, Jakob Marsee walked, Paul McIntosh was hit by a pitch, then Caballero scored on a two-out balk.
In the seventh inning, Harrison Spohn walked, then Tanner Allen and Caballero singled to load the bases. But Smokies reliever Alex Troop struck out Marsee swinging on a slider and got McIntosh to strike out on a changeup.
Joe Mack then lined a shot off Troop's leg and the ball caromed into foul territory to score Spohn and force Troop to leave the game. Michael Arias entered and got Hostetler to end the inning on a flyout.
In the eighth, with two on, one out, Allen lined a pitch hard, but right at Rivera at shortstop. Caballero struck out to end the inning.
McIntosh was then stranded in the ninth after a one-out single.
Both teams went with relievers starting the game. The Blue Wahoos used Jozwiak and Tennessee countered with righthander Trey Supak, who worked four innings.
GAME NOTABLES
--- Students, teachers and parents from area schools were able to take a lap around the field during the pregame ceremony that highlighted the reading program.
--- The Milton High baseball team had its fundraiser day at the ballpark.
--- Great Clips, a co-sponsor of Family and Military Sunday at the stadium, provided 500 miniature bats to fans from their location on the concourse, plus offered easily removable spray painting of hair in red/blue colors.
WHAT'S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
WHEN: Tuesday (May 28) thru Sunday (June 2).
WHERE: Shuckers Ballpark, Biloxi, Mississippi.
TICKETS: Available through www.biloxishuckers.com/tickets. Or at stadium box office.
PROMOTIONS: Tuesday in Biloxi is a T-shirt giveaway, Wednesday is Military Wednesday and Biloxi's "Bark in the Park" night, Thursday is a Thirsty Thursday with drink specials. Friday will be the Shuckers' annual Saints Hall of Fame night with former members of the New Orleans Saints honored at the game and it is post-game fireworks night, Saturday is the team's Marvel Defenders of Diamond Night and Sunday is Family Sunday.
AUDIO BROADCAST: Available on www.bluewahoos.com/radio with Blue Wahoos broadcaster Erik Bremer. The broadcast is also available on the MiLB App.
LIVE TV: The game will be available on a Biloxi-produced video stream through Bally Live and MLB.TV (subscription required).
NEXT HOMESTAND: The Blue Wahoos will host the Mississippi Braves on June 4 through June 9.
Images from this story
 Pensacola Blue Wahoos deliver a pitch |
Southern League Stories from May 26, 2024
- Barons Win 8-4 Get the Series Sweep at Biloxi - Birmingham Barons
- Barons Celebrate HBCU Night at Regions Field - Birmingham Barons
- Blue Wahoos Miss Opportunities, Fall in Another One-Run Loss to Smokies in Series Finale - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Baker Throws out Tying Run, Lifts Biscuits to Win in Series Finale - Montgomery Biscuits
- Trash Pandas Fall in Extra Innings 4-3 - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- M-Braves Close out Six-Game Sweep of Lookouts on Sunday - Mississippi Braves
- Game 6 Series Preview at Biloxi - Birmingham Barons
- Game Info: Sunday, May 26 at Chattanooga Lookouts: 1:15 PM CT: AT&T Field - Mississippi Braves
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