SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Mississippi Ends Pensacola's Winning Streak

May 16, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Pensacola Blue Wahoos Pitcher Keyvius Sampson
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Pitcher Keyvius Sampson
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Credit: Barrett McClean/Pensacola Blue Wahoos)

PENSACOLA, Fla., - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos looked good in its special jerseys by marine artist Guy Harvey with the big game fish seemingly swimming off of the front.

When they loaded the bases with none out on three straight singles in the bottom of the ninth inning, they felt even better. With a four-game win streak on the line, the fans and players just knew, just knew the team would win a fifth in the row.

Up to the plate came Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth, who reached base in his first three plate appearances. However, after fouling four straight pitches off with two strikes, Skipworth struck out on the ninth pitch from Mississippi Braves reliever Ryan Kelly.

A pop out to shortstop and strike out later and Mississippi stole a, 1-0, victory from the jaws of the Blue Wahoos in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Braves lone run came in the first inning on a homer - his first of the season - that was crushed by 6-4, 230-pound right fielder David Rohm that appeared to fly about four feet over a leaping Jesse Winker's glove at the wall.

Pensacola starter Keyvius Sampson, who picked up the loss (1-2), threw six innings, gave up three hits, walked three and struck out five. He lowered his ERA to 2.05.

No one was rooting harder than Sampson in the locker room, where he was icing his arm, for Pensacola to score in the ninth.

"You never want one pitch to decide the game," Sampson said afterward. "I was inside rooting for them. Our team could have easily gave in and gone 1-2-3 and called it a day but they kept fighting."

The Braves looked like they would score again in the fourth inning but catcher Matt Kennelly was gunned down by a perfect throw at the plate by Blue Wahoos center fielder Beau Amaral.

Mississippi pitcher Jason Hursh, the Braves No. 6 prospect, matched Sampson inning for inning. After allowing five or more runs in four of his last five outings, Hursh threw six scoreless innings against Pensacola, giving up three hits, one walk and striking out four.

GAME NOTES

The second game of the five-game series is scheduled at 4:05 p.m. Sunday with the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate Mississippi Braves. RHP Tim Adleman (1-3, 1.70) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Braves RHP Tyrell Jenkins (2-2, 3.55).

It's McDonald's Family Sunday, so kids can run the bases after the game and play catch on the Pensacola Bayfront Stadium field.

Keep cool in Sunday afternoon's heat with Pensacola State College's Fan Giveaway.

If you purchase a walk-up ticket Sunday, you will receive a coupon to Carrabba's Italian Grill.

You've seen Downtown Dave on the field, now watch his band ReWired. They are scheduled to perform after the game outside of the main gate. The band plays Rock, Blues and Country.

The game is broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station NewsRadio1620 (WNRP-AM). Listen for free at bluewahoos.com and by using the TuneIn Radio app on your mobile, desktop or home devices. Stream Wahoos games on MiLB.TV, a subscription-based service provided by Minor League Baseball.

BIG FISH

Right fielder Kyle Waldrop hit a single to right field in his last at bat of the game to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He's hitting .400 going 14-35 during the streak. He leads the Cincinnati Reds organization with a .349 average since April 25...Catcher Kyle Skipworth was 2-3 with a double and got on base three times...First baseman Marquez Smith led off the ninth inning rally with a single to the right center field gap but was stranded at third base and was 1-4 on the night.

GUY HARVEY JERSEY Few of the 11 alternate jerseys the Pensacola Blue Wahoos have auctioned off in its four seasons, have earned as much acclaim as marine scientist and artist Guy Harvey's. Known for his realistic sports fishermen T-shirts, Harvey's jersey features a Blue Wahoo - one of the most prestigious and fastest game fish at 200 pounds - swimming under the Blue Wahoos name across the front and below the players' number on the back.

Harvey took the Blue Wahoo from an acrylic on canvas and was digitally rendered onto the jersey.

"I loved the jerseys," said Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly. "If I could afford it, I would have bid on my own. They're fantastic. They should be our home jerseys."

Harvey threw out the first pitch at the Blue Wahoos game and then "bowled" another pitch in honor of his West Indies cricket team that he follows. Proceeds from the jersey auction held in the sixth inning benefited the Pensacola Museum of Art, which is currently hosting a Harvey exhibit.

"It's a fantastic art show," Harvey said. "Many people just know the T-shirts and don't see the rest of it. The (PMA) has a wide variety of artwork on display and not just fish."

SUPPORT THE TROOPS During the month of May, the Blue Wahoos and Whataburger are teaming up to collect donations for USA Northwest Florida. The USO will deliver the items directly to the troops currently serving the United States. Fans who donate during the drive will receive a coupon for a free Whataburger. This week fans can drop off single-serve microwavable snacks such as mac and cheese, ramen noodles and raviolis. Bottled water will be accepted all month long.

The Blue Wahoos return home to play 10 games against the Mississippi Braves May 16th-20th and the Jackson Generals May 21st-25th. Come experience the family-fun entertainment! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall .

Check out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Statistics




Images from this story

Dr. Guy Harvey Throws out First Pitch for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Dr. Guy Harvey Throws out First Pitch for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
(Barrett McClean/Pensacola Blue Wahoos)		 Pensacola Blue Wahoos Pitcher Keyvius Sampson
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Pitcher Keyvius Sampson
(Barrett McClean/Pensacola Blue Wahoos)		  



Southern League Stories from May 16, 2015


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