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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Bookend Shutouts Define 2019 Season

September 2, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Taylor Grzelakowski of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Taylor Grzelakowski of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos)

Five months ago, the Blue Wahoos began their 2019 regular-season schedule with a dominating, shutout win on the road.

They ended it that way, too.

Gaining a momentum boost Monday for the Southern League playoffs, which start Wednesday, the Blue Wahoos unleashed 15 hits and used six different pitchers, who combined on a four-hitter with 16 strikeouts, all equating into an 8-0 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium.

The performance resembled the Blue Wahoos' 7-0 win in their season-opener April 5 against the Mobile BayBears, when Jorge Alcala and Jovani Moran combined on a four-hit shutout.

Their offense Monday was highlighted by shortstop Jose Miranda, who joined the team in Montgomery from the Fort Myers Miracle, the Minnesota Twins' Advance-A affiliate. In his Double-A level debut with Pensacola, Miranda went 3-for-5 and scored a run.

Monday's performance also extended the Blue Wahoos (76-53) second best record in club history. They got a second win in a five-game series the Biscuits took 3-2, amid an emotional backdrop.

The series took a pause Saturday when Montgomery's entire team and staff traveled to attend funeral services in Virginia in support of pitcher Blake Bivens, who lost his wife, 14-month old son and mother-in-law in a horrific crime.

Both teams will now turn focus to the divisional playoffs.

The Blue Wahoos, who face the Biloxi Shuckers in a best-of-five series beginning Wednesday at MGM Park in Biloxi, will be making their fifth consecutive trip into post-season and first as a Twins affiliate.

The playoff streak matches Mobile (2010-14) for the second-best, consecutive playoff appearances in the 55-year history of the Southern League.

The Blue Wahoos advanced as the South Division wild card team, after securing the second-best record in the division. The Shuckers won both half-season division races, matching their feat from 2018. It will be the third time the teams have met in the playoffs.

As the wild card team, the Blue Wahoos will have just one home game, which is Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium. A post-game fireworks show will follow the game. Tickets are priced the same as the regular-season and there is an all-you-can-eat party deck ticket for fans desiring that option.

Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will move back to Biloxi.The same scenario exists in the North Division. The Biscuits won both half-season division races. They host the Jackson Generals - the wild card entry - in their best of five series starting Wednesday.

The two playoff winners will play next week in a best-of-five championship series.

Five Blue Wahoos batters Monday had multiple-hit games. In addition to Miranda, Trevor Larnach went 2-for-2, drove in two runs and walked three times. Taylor Grzelakowski, one of the position players Monday, who started in the season-opener for the Blue Wahoos, went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI.

Ryan Costello (2-for-5) and Alex Kirilloff (1-for-4) also had RBI.

The Blue Wahoos produced a five-run rally in the second inning, then added three more runs in the fourth. Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Bailey Ober worked the first three innings, allowing just one hit, no walks and struck out three.

Anthony Vizcaya picked up the win by pitching a scoreless fourth inning. He was then followed by Jovani Moran (2 innings), Andrew Vasquez, Tom Hackimer and Marcos Diplan. Those four combined to allow just two hits, one walk and struck out 11.

The game began at 12:05 p.m. and the Blue Wahoos were able to return to Pensacola before dusk Monday night.

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Images from this story

Taylor Grzelakowski enters the field for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Taylor Grzelakowski enters the field for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
 Taylor Grzelakowski of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Taylor Grzelakowski of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
  



Southern League Stories from September 2, 2019


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