SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Game Suspended Because of Malfunctioning Lights

Published on August 13, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Southern League rivalry between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mobile BayBears will be remembered Wednesday for the first ever game delay because the ballpark lights went out.

The field and fans sat in complete darkness for about 15 minutes in the top of the ninth inning, right in the middle of a Mobile rally. The BayBears had the bases loaded with one out after scoring two runs to go ahead, 4-3.

That's when the lights on the first base side went out. When the lights came back on, the lights on the first base side did not return to full power.

As a result, the umpires suspended the game until 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The regularly scheduled game will start 30 minutes after the suspended game ends.

Blue Wahoos officials were still trying to figure out why the malfunction happened late Wednesday night.

Blue Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields said he has "never" experienced a suspended game because of the lights going out in his nearly 30 years of professional baseball.

"I've had the lights go out before temporarily but not to suspend a game," DeShields said.

He said he doubts the blackout will effect the game's outcome.

"I don't think it will really matter much," DeShields said. "The bases are loaded and one out. We'll see what happens."

Pensacola had comeback with three runs on five hits in the eighth inning to take the lead, 3-2. First baseman Travis Mattair pushed a single through to right field that scored Ryan Wright and Kyle Waldrop.

GAME NOTES

The third game of the five-game series with Arizona DiamondBacks Double-A affiliate the Mobile BayBears gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. RHP Ben Lively (1-6, 3.96) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP A.J. Schugel (5-2, 3.43). It's Thirsty Thursday and Wahoos Waddle, a concourse crawl, featuring drink specials and exclusive deals thanks to Seville Quarter.

Thursday's game will be broadcast live on WFGX-TV. The game will be broadcast live on radio on ESPN Pensacola at 101.1 FM and 1450 AM. You can also stream the game at MILB.TV.

BLAIR BLANKS BLUE WAHOOS After facing Mobile BayBears Aaron Blair for the second time this season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos would agree that he's one of the Arizona Diamondbacks' top pitching prospects.

The first time around, which was his first start at the Double-A level on July 21, Blair struck out nine Wahoos and shut them out over 6.2 innings.

This time Blair, who is the third best prospect in the Diamondbacks' organization, allowed an infield single to Wahoos third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean in the fifth inning and didn't allow a runner past first base in his six innings of work.

His 153 strikeouts are tied for the lead in all of Minor League baseball. In five starts for Mobile, he is now 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA. Even more impressively, opposing batters are only hitting .190 against him after Wednesday's outing.

BLUE OUT RAISES CANCER AWARENESS The Blue Wahoos wore their blue uniforms and many fans wore blue shirts to help promote awareness of prostrate cancer. With about 15.3 percent of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer, the team joined Woodlands Medical Specialists and Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure to encourage men to get checked for prostate cancer.

More than 50 men took advantage of a free screening by Woodlands Medical Specialists. The practice provided Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screenings for men ages 45 to 69. This test is a simple blood test and when measured, the PSA level can increase the chance of finding prostate cancer when it is very early. When detected 98.9 percent of men survive five years or more.

Dr. Jeffrey Wolters said: "About 10 years ago this was the second leading cancer in men. But as the years have gone on, we've seen a drop. Detection is the key."

The men's restrooms at the ballpark are currently painted with educational murals to promote prostate cancer awareness as well as to educate fans about other urological health related issues.

Check out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Statistics

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Southern League Stories from August 13, 2014


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