Blue Wahoos Score Seven Unanswered, Take Finale
Published on May 26, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
KODAK, TN - The Tennessee Smokies (25-24) led 10-4 after six, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (30-20) rallied to score seven runs over their final three at-bats to take the finale 11-10 Sunday afternoon at Smokies Stadium. The Smokies six run lead is their largest lead blown this season.
The Smokies batted around and scored four times in the second. After RHP Andro Cutura recorded the first out, Christian Donahue singled. Donahue went first-to-third on Jesse Hodges' single, and scored on Gioskar Amaya's RBI-single. Hodges came into score on Roberto Caro's two-out single. Amaya went to third on the play, and crossed the plate on Vimael Machin's RBI-infield single. Young's RBI-single, scoring Caro, ran the lead to 4-0.
After a one-out walk and error in the fourth, Caleb Hamilton hit an RBI-double, scoring Jaylin Davis, to put the Blue Wahoos on the board. Ernie De La Trinidad's sacrifice fly cut the Smokies lead in half.
Pensacola and Tennessee exchanged runs in the fifth to run the score to 5-3. Ben Rortvedt drew a bases loaded walk in the top half, and Hodges hit an RBI-triple in the bottom half.
Travis Blankenhorn's RBI-double in the sixth cut the Smokies lead to one, but in the bottom half, Tennessee sent ten men to the plate and scored five runs to go up 10-4. Caro hit a one-out solo home run to right field off RHP Cody Stashak to start the scoring. Young and Jhonny Pereda both hit RBI-doubles, and P.J. Higgins and Hodges both collected RBI-singles.
The Blue Wahoos answered with four in the seventh. Mitchell Kranson led off the inning with a double, and scored on Rortvedt's two-run home run to right field off RHP Jake Stinnett. Blankenhorn hit a two-run single later in the inning to cut the score to 10-8.
Pensacola tied it in the eighth. After a single and back-to-back hit-by-pitches to open the inning, LHP Ian Clarkin was lifted for RHP Brad Markey (L, 1-2). Markey walked Hamilton to force in a run. De La Trinidad's second sacrifice fly tied the game at ten.
Blankenhorn led off the ninth with the eventual game-winning solo home run to right field off Markey. RHP Cory Abbott did not factor in the decision, he allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts. The Smokies bullpen allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings.
The Smokies are off Monday and begin a ten-game road trip Tuesday in Biloxi against the Shuckers at MGM Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 PM ET with RHP Oscar De La Cruz (2-1, 2.42) getting the start for the Smokies.
Southern League Stories from May 26, 2019
- Muller Does It All in M-Braves Shutout Win over Shrimp - Mississippi Braves
- Lookouts Best the Barons in Finale - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Shrimp Blanked by M-Braves 4-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Blankenhorn Caps Wild Comeback Win with Ninth Inning Homer - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Barons Falter in Series Finale vs. Chattanooga - Birmingham Barons
- Five Makes Four: Five-Run Fifth Gives Generals Fourth Straight Win - Jackson Generals
- Blue Wahoos Score Seven Unanswered, Take Finale - Knoxville Smokies
- Grisham's Four-Hit Day Leads Shuckers to Fourth Straight Win - Biloxi Shuckers
- Generals Punish Biscuits, 8-1 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Game Notes, May 26 at Mississippi - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Generals Gameday: May 26 at Montgomery - Jackson Generals
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.
