
Blue Wahoos Split Doubleheader with Historic Win
June 24, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Kodak, Tenn. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the first game of their Saturday doubleheader 6-4 to the Tennessee Smokies, but rallied late to take the nightcap 6-5 and secure the best half-season record in franchise history.
At 41-27 with one game to play in the half, the Blue Wahoos officially surpassed the 2016 club that went 41-29 in the first half en route to a division title.
In game one, the Smokies used the long ball to take an early lead against Luis Palacios (L, 4-3). Haydn McGeary hit a two-run homer in the first, and Nelson Maldonado and Jordan Nwogu went back-to-back in the second, to put Tennessee ahead for good.
RBI singles from Victor Mesa Jr. and Griffin Conine brought the Blue Wahoos to within a run at 4-3, but Zac Leigh worked 2.0 effective innings of relief for the Smokies and Owen Caissie added two insurance runs with a double in the fifth to extend the Tennessee lead to 6-3.
In the seventh and final inning, Conine led off with a double and Troy Johnston followed with an RBI single before Danis Correa (S, 3) closed out the win.
In game two, Tennessee once again jumped out early with a first-inning home run from Caissie. José Devers evened the score with a Pensacola homer, and Conine brought in Nasim Nuñez with an RBI single in the third to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 2-1.
The Smokies evened the score against Jonathan Bermudez (W, 1-2) with a fourth-inning Cole Roederer RBI single, and Luis Vazquez blasted a 478-foot homer in the fifth to put Tennessee up 4-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Blue Wahoos drew three walks against Scott Kobos (L, 0-1) to tie the game 4-4 before Norel González capped the rally with a two-run single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cristian Charle (S, 1) allowed a double and a Caissie RBI single before issuing a walk and three stolen bases to put the tying run at third and winning run at second. A strikeout of Roederer ended the game, securing a doubleheader split and eliminating the Smokies from the first half North Division race.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 CT, with a live broadcast beginning at 12:55 on BlueWahoos.com, the MiLB First Pitch app (radio), Bally Live and MiLB.tv (video). For more information, visit BlueWahoos.com or contact the box office at (850) 934-8444.
Southern League Stories from June 24, 2023
- Trash Pandas Split Doubleheader with Biscuits - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Biscuits Split Doubleheader Against Trash Pandas - Montgomery Biscuits
- Blue Wahoos Split Doubleheader with Historic Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Trash Pandas Split Doubleheader with Biscuits - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- M-Braves Fall to Barons 2-1 for Second Straight Night - Mississippi Braves
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