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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Pensacola Earns Fourth Consecutive Series Win with 5-4 Victory

June 26, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


JACKSON, Tenn. - After losing both games in Friday's doubleheader, the Wahoos thought they might never beat the Generals. Since that night, the Wahoos haven't stopped winning. Victor Payano recorded his first career hit and RBIs and notched a pair of doubles as the Wahoos swam to a 5-4 win Tuesday afternoon in Jackson.

With a six-game series, it was unclear if manager Jody Davis was going to use Daniel Wright for the second time or instead use the bullpen knowing the team had a day off on Wednesday. The Blue Wahoos skipper opted with the latter and Victor Payano did not disappoint. The left-hander worked three innings and despite walking three, he held the Generals offense to one hit across his three-shutout innings.

Where Payano really made his mark on Tuesday was at the plate. With two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Payano swung at the first pitch he saw from Justin Donatella (L, 3-4) and lined a double down the left field line to clear the bases. It was his first career hit and RBIs in his nine-year professional career to give Pensacola a 3-0 lead.

Carlos Navas (W, 2-0) was the next man up for the Wahoos and ran into trouble early. After a flyout from Rudy Flores, Josh Prince launched a solo home run to left field to make it 3-1. The next batter, Jason Morozowski then homered on the very next pitch to make it a one-run game. After that, Navas kept his cool and allowed no further damage over the rest of his three innings.

The Wahoos offense went back to work in the sixth when the plated home two more runs. After a walk to Shed Long, shortstop Luis Gonzalez singled to center, which put runners on the corners with nobody out. Brian O'Grady then hit a sac fly in the left field foul territory, which brought home Long. Aristides Aquino then laced his second of two doubles, which scored Gonzalez and made it 5-2 Wahoos.

Alejandro Chacin replaced Navas in the seventh inning and like Navas, he ran into some trouble. After a spotless seventh inning, he nearly escaped trouble with two Generals on and two outs in the eighth inning. However, back-to-back singles from Marcus Littlewood and Galli Cribbs again cut Pensacola's lead down to one. Chacin managed to strike out Daniel Robertson and strand the tying run in scoring position with Wahoos holding on to a 5-4 advantage.

Alex Powers (S, 7) closed out the game for the Wahoos in his first appearance since the All-Star game in Birmingham. Powers retired the Generals in order and this season is a perfect seven-for-seven in save situations this season. Pensacola lost the first seven games to the Generals before closing out the season-series with a season-best four-game winning streak.

Pensacola will open up a six-game homestand against the Mississippi Braves, beginning this Thursday. This series is the start of a critical stretch for the Blue Wahoos as 20 of their next 24 games against divisional foes. RHP Daniel Wright (3-5, 4.44) is expected to start game one for the Wahoos against one of the top pitching prospects for the Brave in RHP Bryse Wilson (1-5, 5.83). The Wahoos return to Blue Wahoos Stadium on June 28 when they host the Mississippi Braves. That game is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT and can be heard on the radio at 97.1 The Ticket/1490 AM Milton, and www.bluewahoos.com. Television coverage is presented by Cox Sports TV.

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