SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Montgomery Takes Series with 4-3 Win over Pensacola

Published on July 14, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - In his last three starts, Mikey O'Brien has pitched in High-A Bakersfield, Calif., Triple-A Louisville, Ky., and then returned to Double-A Pensacola.

But O'Brien said Monday all the travel didn't bother him as he went up against Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and held his own, leaving after seven innings with a 3-2 lead.

However, the Montgomery Biscuits came from behind in the eighth inning with two runs to win the game, 4-3, and to take the series, 3-2, in front of 4,050 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

O'Brien pitched his longest outing of the season, going seven strong innings. He retired the last 12 batters he faced and 15 of the last 16. O'Brien allowed four hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out three.

"I don't mind traveling as long as I have a job and I am out on the mound every fifth day," O'Brien said. "For the most part, I felt locked in and in a groove."

Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields said it was one of O'Brien's best outings for Pensacola.

"He ran into a little trouble in the third but outside of that he was in total control out there," he said.

Meanwhile, Hellickson, who made his season debut Tuesday in Tampa Bay against the Kansas City Royals, got in six innings of work. He had arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in January. Hellickson looked just fine Monday, striking out 11 Wahoos, including seven of the last eight batters he faced. He walked none, while giving up just one run.

"I was just treating tonight like it was a real game," said Hellickson, a righty who is 39-31 with a 3.69 ERA in five seasons with Tampa Bay. "It's the best I've felt command wise and with my changeup. I was pretty happy with how my day went."

O'Brien said he found Hellickson's work on the mound fun to watch.

"I've enjoyed watching him pitch for the last couple of years," O'Brien said. "He showed tonight why he's a Major Leaguer."

Hellickson is scheduled to start for High-A Charlotte on Sunday. He rejoins Tampa Bay's rotation at the start of its first post-All-Star break homestand, a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox from July 25-27.

"I'm looking forward to it quite a bit," said Hellickson about his second start for the Rays, after allowing one run and six hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 4.1 innings against the Royals.

Pensacola took the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning on an opposite field solo home run by Kyle Waldrop and a line drive shot over the left field wall by Juan Duran. Duran's solo homer tied him with the second most homers in Blue Wahoos history in a season with 11. Travis Mattair holds the single-season record, hitting 13 dingers last season.

GAME NOTES

The Blue Wahoos are off Tuesday during the Major League All-Star Game. They start a five-game series on the road at Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate the Jacksonville Suns that gets underway at 6:05 p.m EST Wednesday. RHP Daniel Corcino (8-7, 4.40) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Suns LHP Chipper Smith (3-3, 4.02). The game will be broadcast live on radio at ESPN Pensacola on 101.1 FM and 1450 AM. You can also stream the game at MILB.TV.

The Blue Wahoos return Monday, July 21 for a five game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate Mobile BayBears.

BIG FISH Wahoos centerfielder Josh Fellhauer went 2-4 with a triple and is hitting .381 since coming off the disabled list July 8...Right fielder Yorman Rodriguez was 2-4 with a double and triple and a run scored...DH Kyle Waldrop hit his second home run for the Wahoos since joining the team after the Southern League All-Star break. He also doubled to go 2-4 on the night...Leftfielder Juan Duran smacked his 11th homerun of the season and leads the team.

ROAD TO LOUISVILLE The Cincinnati Reds announced a flurry of moves on Monday involving the Blue Wahoos, including sending RHP Tim Adleman up to Triple-A Louisville.

Adleman has appeared in 20 games for the Blue Wahoos this summer since joining the team in mid-April. He is 2-4 with a 3.30 ERA for Pensacola. He has pitched mostly in relief, but has started in each of his last two outings. This will be Adleman's first trip to Triple-A over his professional career, which began in 2010 in the Orioles organization.

In addition, relievers Fabian Williamson and Fabio Castillo return to Pensacola after getting sent to Louisville late last week. Each pitcher made one appearance during their time with the Bats. Williamson allowed one run over two innings, while Castillo worked 2.2 scoreless innings in his outing.

The organization also announced the release of RHP Brooks Pinckard. The right-hander was 1-1 with a 6.21 ERA over 22 appearances with Pensacola this season.

SITTON READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL Now that Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Josh Sitton painted the corner with a 54 mph fastball during the ceremonial first pitch Monday at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos home game, he's focused on training camp that starts next week.

The Catholic High School product and NFL All-Pro lineman said he expects the Packers to contend for another playoff berth. Right off the bat, the Packers play defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the often deafening Seattle stadium. "We're a very hungry team right now. Playing out there is almost unfair. In the first quarter we just got to ride that wave of emotion."

Sitton also encouraged the Wahoos players to never give up in their pursuit of the Major Leagues. Sitton said he didn't expect to get drafted in the fourth round in 2008 out of the University of Central Florida and thought he would play arena football somewhere. "Always do whatever you can to live your dream. If it's playing baseball, keep doing it."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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