SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Lively Earns First Win at Home against Montgomery

August 24, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - Excitement ran high when Ben Lively toed the mound for the first time in his hometown for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

A much larger than usual sellout crowd packed the ballpark to see the big 22-year-old righty from Gulf Breeze High School start, after he tore up the California League for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze.

Sunday night in his last home start, Lively had several members of the Cincinnati Reds front office looking on, including Walt Jocketty the president of baseball operations and general manager.

Lively delivered his first win in seven starts at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium as the Blue Wahoos stomped the Montgomery Biscuits, 9-4, in front of 4,019 on Sunday. The Wahoos have two more home games left against the Biscuits at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Jocketty, who was making his second visit to Pensacola, gave his critique of Lively after watching the game in the stands behind home plate. Lively ranks as the sixth best prospect in the Reds organization.

"It was the first time I've seen him pitch," he said. "From what I saw he has pretty good stuff. He has a rising fastball and a good curveball. I wished I had seen him earlier. He's had a great year."

Lively, who entered the game 0-4 with a 3.86 ERA in front of family and friends from across the Pensacola Bay where he used to play in Gulf Breeze, was "absolutely" happy to post a W. On the year, he is now 3-6 with a 3.76 ERA and his five strikeouts in five innings last night gave him 167 on the year to remain among the top three pitchers in strikeouts in all of minor league ball.

"I stayed relaxed," said Lively, who admitted not even remembering where he was in his first start in Pensacola. "I was a lot more calm than I was before."

Right fielder Kyle Waldrop who had two singles, a double and a triple in five at bats scored twice and knocked in two runs said he was happy for Lively.

"It definitely feels great to get him some runs," said Waldrop, who is batting .471 over the last two series with two home runs and 11 RBI. "He has pitched well all year."

After the game, Lively said even tougher than fighting his nerves in his first start was fighting the 93-degree temperature to start the game. He said the heat and the 80-plus percent humidity was something he wasn't use to anymore.

"Every time I pitched, I could see sweat flying off my arm," he said. "It's tough to pitch in a sauna. I just had to bear down and throw strikes when I needed to."

The biggest adjustment Lively said he has made at Double-A is throwing a two-seam and four-seam fastball to vary the miles per hour from the high 80s to mid 90s and getting better command of his curveball that dips to the low 70s.

"We've been working on it and all the pitchers have been helping me out," Lively said.

He said he's happy to have gotten the chance to pitch in his hometown despite looking up and seeing people he knows almost every time he looks into the stands and having his cell phone light up with texts. His goal this offseason is to build his strength, especially in his legs, so he can pitch deeper in starts.

"This has been a good learning experience," he said. "It's been awesome."

Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields has liked what he's seen out of Lively, especially handling playing in his hometown.

"Ben is a competitor," he said. "He's pitched a lot better than his record indicates. He will be a lot better for playing here. If he plays here next year, he will be a lot more prepared."

GAME NOTES

The fourth game of the five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Monday. RHP Robert Stephenson (6-9, 4.84) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits LHP Jimmy Patterson (3-0, 3.67). To celebrate the Dodge Challenger's 100th anniversary, if a Blue Wahoos player hits the designated Hill-Kelly target over the right field wall during Monday's game, a lucky fan will win a 2014 Dodge Challenger. The contest is presented by Hill-Kelly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram.

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

BIG FISH Right fielder Kyle Waldrop went 4-for-5 and now is 7-for-10 in his past two games. He had a triple and double, two runs scored and 2 RBI...Leftfielder Yorman Rodriguez doubled in his last at bat and was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. He increased his hitting streak to 10 games and is 14-for-33, or .424, during that span...Third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean went 2-for-5 with three RBI...First baseman Travis Mattair was 2-for-4 with one RBI...Relief pitcher Shane Dyer extended his Blue Wahoos record to 19 saves on the season, striking out two in the ninth.

WAHOOS SURPASS 300K For the third consecutive season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos surpassed 300,000 fans in a season. A crowd of 4,019 attended Sunday's game, upping the Wahoos total on the 2014 season to 303,578, which ranks second in the Southern League behind the Birmingham Barons.

After Sunday's attendance and the Wahoos 33rd sellout crowd of 5,038 Saturday night, the Wahoos are averaging 4,464 fans a game. They are on track to pass the 307,094 attendance mark set in 2013. In its inaugural season in 2012, they drew 328,147, which ranked first in the Southern League.

REDS' JOCKETTY VISITING Walt Jocketty, the Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations and general manager, is visiting the Pensacola Blue Wahoos for the second time this season.

He said he enjoys coming to watch the Reds' Double-A affiliate and has yet to visit some of the organization's other clubs.

"We have a great relationship," he said. "I love coming here. Pensacola treats our people well. This is a good stepping stone."

Jocketty said decisions must be made on all the players but expects several to Pensacola.

"They've had a rough season this year," he said. "You probably will see a lot return. They'll be better next year for the experience they've had this year."

Check out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Statistics



Southern League Stories from August 24, 2014


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