Montgomery Uses Four Homers to Defeat Pensacola, 12-2
July 13, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
PENSACOLA, Fla. - At least two Pensacola Blue Wahoos players had a day to remember on the field Sunday - outfielder Jesse Winker and pitcher Robert Stephenson.
Playing in the 16th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures game with the top 50 prospects in minor league baseball at Target Field in Minneapolis, Winker had the game's first hit and first run, while Stephenson had the fastest recorded pitch in the game among all the pitchers at 98.1 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos had a forgettable day against the Montgomery Biscuits at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, losing 12-2. The Wahoos are now 5-41 in games they trailed after seven innings.
But in Minnesota, Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 4 prospect, hit a double off the left field wall to lead off the third inning and later scored to give the U.S. Team a 1-0 lead over the World Team. He went 1-2 on the day.
Wahoos leftfielder Kyle Waldrop has known Winker the past two years and said all the players cheered in the dugout when his hit was announced to the stadium.
"He definitely deserves to be there," Waldrop said. "We were all excited for him."
Stephenson threw a scoreless 8th inning. In a matchup of the Reds' top prospect versus the Chicago Cubs' top prospect - shortstop Javier Baez - Stephenson came out on top striking Baez out on four pitches. Stephenson gave up one hit.
His roommate, Wahoos pitcher Jon Moscot, said Stephenson didn't sleep the night before flying out to Sunday's game.
"He was estatic about it and told me he wanted to see how hard he could throw it," Moscot said. "We all know about Baez. That's a great matchup for Stephenson."
Back in Pensacola, the game unraveled for the Wahoos in the seventh inning when Montgomery first baseman Cameron Seitzer hit a grand slam and then the very next batter, third baseman Richie Shaffer, followed up with a solo homer over the left field wall. The Biscuits all of a sudden changed a 3-2 lead to an 8-2 game.
The good news in Lively's bid for his first victory at the Double-A level, he struck out a season-high nine batters with the Wahoos in five innings of work. The bad news: the Biscuits Ryan Brett and Jeff Hager hit back-to-back solo shots over the leftfield wall to put Montgomery ahead, 3-1, in the fifth inning.
Lively, who took the loss and now is 0-3, did retake the lead in strikeouts in minor league baseball with 131 Ks. He surpassed Single-A Visalia Rawhide pitcher Aaron Blair, who has 125.
Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields said he hopes Winker and Stephenson and the other Pensacola ballplayers continue to improve after the games they played Sunday.
"I hope they benefit from their experiences and are better players next time around," he said. "People's expectations were a little higher than mine. I knew there would be ups and downs coming in."
GAME NOTES
The finale of the five-game series with Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Monday. RHP Mikey O'Brien (3-3, 3.86) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits RHP Jeremy Hellickson, who is rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow. It's Social Media Monday and fans can connect with the Blue Wahoos social channels using #WahoosLife to win prizes, seat upgrades or to have their message displayed on the video board.
The game will be broadcast live on radio at ESPN Pensacola at 101.1 FM and 1450 AM. You can also stream the game at MILB.TV.
BIG FISH Wahoos first baseman Travis Mattair went 0-3 but scored both Pensacola runs when he reached on a walk and an error...Rightfielder Juan Duran went 2-3 with a single and a double and drove in one run...DH Yorman Rodriguez was 1-3 and singled in a run.
TAMPA BAY'S HELLICKSON TO START Jeremy Hellickson was optioned Sunday to the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits and is scheduled to start Monday night against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He is then scheduled to start for High-A Charlotte the following Sunday.
The move was made so Hellickson can receive more work as part of rehab in his recovery from January arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow. He made his season debut with the Rays on Tuesday in a victory over the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field. He allowed one run and six hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 4.1 innings. He is scheduled to rejoin Tampa Bay at the start of its first post-All-Star break homestand, a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox from July 25-27.
Hellickson has made six starts total in the minors this season, going 1-4 with a 6.23 ERA, 18 strikeouts and six walks in five starts with Triple-A Durham and one with Charlotte.
The 27-year-old righty is 39-31 with a 3.69 ERA in five seasons with Tampa Bay.
Southern League Stories from July 13, 2014
- M-Braves Force Extra Innings, Fall 8-7 in 10 Frames - Mississippi Braves
- Jackson Clinches Series Win with 8-3 Victory over Barons - Birmingham Barons
- Montgomery Uses Four Homers to Defeat Pensacola, 12-2 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits' Bats Explode by Blue Wahoos - Montgomery Biscuits
- Lookouts Shoot Down Stars on a Walk-Off Double - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Soler Smashes Smokies over Suns in 14-8 Slugfest - Knoxville Smokies
- Chattanooga Walks off on Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Smokies Out-Slug Suns 14-8 on Sunday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Guaipe Reinstated from DL, Shackleford Placed on DL - Jackson Generals
- Cargill to Jacksonville - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- INF Jamie Pedroza Released - Birmingham Barons
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