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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Pensacola Earns Second Straight Victory over Rival Mobile

July 23, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - How can you out do the excitement of having two of the greatest football players in college history at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos baseball game?

You hit a two-out blast over the left field wall that wins the game for the home team, 3-2.

That's exactly what Travis Mattair, who has the most home runs in Wahoos history with 22 over the past two seasons, did. He jacked a deep homer in the seventh inning that broke a 2-2 tie and ended up the game-winner against the Mobile BayBears at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It was the Wahoos second straight win over Southern League South Division leader Mobile.

Wednesday's game began with former Heisman Trophy winners and national champions Charlie Ward, a Florida State Seminoles quarterback, and Danny Wuerffel, a Florida Gators quarterback. Ward won his Heisman in 1993 and Wuerffel in 1996. Although the fans cheered loudly for them, most of the Wahoos were too young to remember the college superstars.

But Mattair out shone the legendary guests, especially since he has struggled with a season-long slump at .225. He went 3-4 Wednesday, though, adding two singles. He now has nine home runs and 44 RBI on the year.

Mattair said he's following advice given to him by Cincinnati Reds great Ken Griffey Sr. who told him to play the game like he did when he was a boy during a slump in High-A Bakersfield.

"I'll never forget that," Mattair said. "I'm just trying to have fun and contribute to the team. It has been kind of a tough year but I can still make this a good year."

Pensacola manager Delino DeShields said Mattair's attitude remains positive on the field and off.

"Moose still has a pulse there," DeShields said. "He's still battling. His attitude hasn't changed even through his struggles."

DeShields also liked having a new middle reliever in Ben Klimesh who got called up from High-A Bakersfield on Wednesday. In his debut, Klimesh got the win by throwing a scoreless seventh inning.

"That was the biggest inning of the night," DeShields said. "Putting up a zero gives us a chance to win. I thought (Klimesh) was very good out there."

The BayBears got on the scoreboard first when Nate Samson started the game with a home run. However, the Wahoos came right back in the bottom of the first inning with two runs when Ross Perez singled in Brodie Greene and Kyle Waldrop hit a deep fly ball to left field to score Perez.

After the first inning, starting pitcher Jon Moscot retired 11 in a row after getting a double play to end the first inning. He allowed six hits and one walk and struck out two in six innings of work.

Mobile's Jake Lamb, hitting .353 with runners in scoring position, hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Samson from third to tie the game at 2 in the sixth inning, setting up Mattair's heroics.

GAME NOTES

The fourth game of the five-game series with Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate Mobile BayBears gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. RHP Robert Stephenson (5-6, 3.84) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP Bradin Hagens (8-4, 3.95).

It's Thirsty Thursday with exclusive deals, such as $2 drafts at concession stands, 2-for-$6 domestic bottles and $1 canned sodas. Thirsty Thursday is presented by Seville Quarter.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Pensacola at 101.1 FM and 1450 AM. Thursday's game will be broadcast live on WFGX-TV. You can also stream the game at MILB.TV.

BIG FISH Catcher Ross Perez, who played last season with the Mobile BayBears, is now 17-40 against them, or hitting .425. He went 3-4 with a double, run scored and RBI...Shortstop Brodie Green doubled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to six games...Second baseman Devin Lohman had his 14th multi-hit game, going 2-4 with a double...First baseman Travis Mattair went 3-4, including a game-winning home run...Shane Dyer pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his team-leading 10th save.

WINKER OUT WITH WRIST INJURY Pensacola Blue Wahoos outfielder prospect Jesse Winker strained a tendon in his right wrist and will miss two to four weeks. Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, has the wrist wrapped and immobolized.

Although Winker was hitting .208 at the Double-A level in 21 games with the Wahoos, he reached base in his first 14 games with the team and had two walk-off hits in back-to-back games. He also started in the Futures Game, as part of the Major League Baseball All-Star game, and has the U.S. Team's first hit and first run in the third inning. At High-A Bakersfield Blaze, Winker finished the first half of the season hitting .317 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 53 games.

WAHOOS ADD RELIEVER Right-handed reliever Ben Klimesh joined the Blue Wahoos Wednesday from High-A Bakersfield Blaze. He took over for starter Jon Moscot and got the win, giving up one hit and striking out two in his debut. Meanwhile, Wahoos righty Fabio Castillo has been transferred to Triple-A Louisville.

Klimesh is 4-1 and has a 4.34 ERA on the season for Bakersfield. He has six saves in nine appearances. The Cincinnati Reds selected Klimesh in the 15th round of the 2012 draft.

Castillo heads back to Triple-A Louisville for a second time this season. He has a 2.35 ERA in seven games for the Wahoos. During Castillo's one appearance with Louisville, he did not allow a run over 2.2 innings.

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