SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Jacksonville Ties Series at 2-2 with Victory

June 3, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - For much of the game, Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Mikey O'Brien and Jacksonville Suns Justin Nicolino treated fans to a pitching duel.However, the game ended in heartbreak again for the Wahoos, who lost 3-2, Tuesday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in front of 3,954 fans. It was Pensacola's 15th loss in one- run games this season.

"Definitely things have not been going our way to this point," said Wahoos manager Delino DeShields, whose team has won eight games by one run. "We had a chance to tie the game. They kept fighting."

After giving up an unearned run in the first inning, Wahoos O'Brien got in a groove, striking out four batters in a row at one point. He pitched five solid innings, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out six.

"I was attacking the zone," O'Brien said. "Me and (catcher Chris) Berset were on the same page all night. He was calling a great game."

Suns lefty Justin Nicolino, the Miami Marlins fourth ranked prospect by Baseball America, has had trouble with the Wahoos in his first two starts against them, giving up four runs in 4.2 innings on April 22 and five runs in 5.1 innings on May 19.

However, he mowed down the Wahoos lineup, starting the game by retiring the first nine batters and pitching to the minimum three batters in five of his first six innings. Nicolino allowed only two runs in seven innings on six hits and one walk.

"He pitched well tonight," DeShields said. "That was one of his better outings that I've seen him pitch at this level."

Jacksonville tied the five-game series at two games apiece when third baseman Alex Burg doubled to the gap in right center to drive in two runs in the eighth inning to put the Suns ahead for good, 3-2.

Pensacola had taken the lead, 2-1, in the seventh when Travis Mattair led off with a ground-rule double that bounced on one hop over the 400-foot sign in center field and Yorman Rodriguez hit a broken-bat single past the second baseman to score him.

GAME NOTES

The final game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 2.80) is set to start for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by RHP Angel Sanchez (0-7, 6.39). It's Bike Night with about 40 members of the Christian Motorcylce Club showing off their rides and doing a pregame motorcycle parade in the stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Pensacola at 101.5 FM and 1450 AM.

BIG FISH

Wahoos shortstop Rey Navarro walked in the fourth inning to increase his streak to 12 straight games on base...First baseman Steve Selsky extended his hit streak to seven games and is 8-19 or .421 in that span. Left fielder Brodie Greene and third baseman Travis Mattair both were 2-4 and scored a run.

CONTRERAS ACTIVATED

Blue Wahoos righty Carlos Contreras, the Cincinnati Reds No. 7 prospect this season according to Baseball America, was activated Tuesday after going on the disabled list with back spasms April 27. Contreras was 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA as a starter. He became a starter in 2013 for the Bakersfield Blaze and Pensacola, combining to go 8-9 with a 3.47 ERA in 26 starts. However, he has served primarily as a reliever, converting 20 of 24 save tries in Low-A Dayton in 2012.

Shane Dyer, who leads the Wahoos with 5 saves this season, was put on the DL with a lower back strain.

MIGUEL TEJADA WATCH

On Day 4 with the Jacksonville Suns, Alex Burg started in place of Tejada at third base. In his first three games, Tejada smacked four hits, including a double, in 12 at bats for a .333 average. He also scored twice.

The 40-year-old Tejada, a six-time All-Star and American League MVP in 2002, is trying to make a comeback after a 105-game suspension by Major League Baseball for testing positive for amphetamines. He is allowed to play in the majors again June 7 and it is expected he will be on the Miami Marlins roster.

Wahoos manager Delino DeShields played three seasons at Baltimore from 1999-2001 when Tejada played for the Oakland A's.

"That old man can still swing a bat," DeShields said. "I was always impressed with his enthusiasm. That old man can still swing the bat. To see a guy like this go to work is good for all the young guys. He's a good player regardless of what happened."

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