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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Pensacola Falters Despite Late Game Excitement

April 29, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Credit: Barrett McClean)

PENSACOLA, Fla., - All the excitement in Wednesday's game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Biloxi Shuckers happened in the eighth and ninth innings.

Sean Buckley crushed a two-run home run to dead center field that traveled 400-feet plus.

Then Kyle Waldrop doubled off the top of the right field wall and Juan Perez doubled to centerfield beating the throw to second.

All of a sudden Pensacola trailed by two runs, 5-3, in the eighth inning and the Blue Wahoos fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium finally had something to cheer about in an otherwise dreary game that saw the Blue Wahoos total just three hits in the first seven innings.

However, Biloxi held on, 5-3, to take five of six games in the series after a rally killing double play in the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Marquez Smith worked the count to earn a walk to lead off the ninth. But he was doubled up when second baseman Ryan Wright laced a pop out to second baseman Orlando Arcia in shallow right field that he caught and threw to first to get Smith.

Smith walked toward the umpire and was immediately thrown out. Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly sprinted over from third and was immediately ejected. It was the most noise in the ballpark all night.

"The play wasn't even close," Kelly said. "He was safe."

Although disappointed with another loss to Biloxi, Buckley said it was a relief to smash his first home run of the season.

"I don't think it's the farthest one but it's the first one this year," he said. "It felt good. I've been waiting for that one."

Kelly also liked seeing his team fight to win until the end of the game against first place Biloxi, which is opening the season on a 55-game road trip until its ballpark finally is completed in June.

"Any time you go over the 400-foot sign you have to give him credit," Kelly said. "He's swinging the bat as good as anybody this year."

Starting pitcher Wandy Peralta also showed some fortitude. After giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in the first inning to Biloxi, including a two-run single by the Shuckers first baseman Nick Ramirez, he settled down. Throwing a mix of off-speed and fastballs, Peralta then struck out seven of the next 10 batters and worked out of two bases loaded jams.

"In the past, emotionally, (Peralta) never would have recovered from a first inning like that," Kelly said. "He was ambushed in that first inning. But he settled down."

GAME NOTES

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos travel to play a five-game series April 30-May 4 against the Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate Jackson (Miss.) Generals. The Blue Wahoos next homestand is May 5-9 against the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies.

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 First baseman Kyle Waldrop extended his hitting streak to four games with a single and double and is now 5-16 during his streak...Left fielder Sean Buckley went 6-15 (.400) in the series against Biloxi, including a home run to dead center field to drive in two runs Wednesday...Third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean extended his on-base streak to seven games with two walks in four plate appearances...Center fielder Beau Amaral made a spectacular diving catch running back on the ball and doubled to left center...Shortstop Juan Perez doubled in a run and has now hit in 10 of his last 11 games...Starting pitcher Wandy Peralta struck out seven of 10 batters he faced, after giving up three runs in the first inning.

LORENZEN A BIG LEAGUER After making just 28 starts in the minor leagues, including 24 last season with the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Michael Lorenzen made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds No. 4 prospect left the game Wednesday after five innings of work, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-2. All three runs came on solo home run shots to centerfield by Adam Lind, and Khris Davis in the second inning and Ryan Braun in the fifth.

In the loss, Lorenzen gave up eight hits, three earned runs, one walk and struck out five. He has a 5.40 ERA.

Lorenzen's started his first big league game with a 95-mph fastball for a strike. He had a smooth 20-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the first inning with 14 of his pitches clocked at 94 mph or faster.

Lorenzen worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth by striking out two batters and snaring a smash up the middle by Jean Segura to end the inning. In all, he threw 107 pitches total-his highest count as a starter-getting 68 over for strikes.

A former center fielder at Cal State-Fullerton before being drafted in 2013, Lorenzen singled in his first at-bat in the bigs in a seven-pitch at-bat. The last Reds starting pitcher with a base hit in his first big league plate appearance before Lorenzen was Mike Leake in 2010.

Wahoos Manager Pat Kelly said he observed Lorenzen really come on in Spring Training where the non-roster invitee became the last player cut by the Reds.

"For the first time in his career, I thought, 'Wow.' He started looking like he could pitch in the big leagues," Kelly said.

HAYES MAKES LOUISVILLE After being at every Pensacola Blue Wahoos game since its inception in 2012, right-hander Drew Hayes was promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats Tuesday morning.

In his Triple-A debut, the Indianapolis Indians scored twice in the sixth inning and Hayes took the loss and currently boasts an 18.00 ERA. Hayes walked the first two batters, then surrendered back-to-back RBI singles. In all, Hayes gave up three walks in one inning of work.

For the Double-A Blue Wahoos, Hayes made 193 appearances, including two starts and pitched 203.1 innings in four seasons. He posted an 11-9 record with seven saves, while striking out 205 batters.

Hayes turned the corner for the Blue Wahoos in August posting a 1-0 record in nine games with a 1.71 ERA. In 15.2 innings pitched, he gave up 11 hits and posted 18 strikeouts. His success continued over the winter in the Dominican League. Pitching for Estrellas de Oriente, Hayes posted a 2-0 record and 1.38 ERA in nine relief appearances. He struck out 17 hitters in 13 innings pitched, giving up just eight hits and two walks.

This season in Pensacola, Hayes made four appearances and threw 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball, while allowing only four hits.

Catcher Yovan Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list with a low back strain. He's played eight games for the Blue Wahoos this season, while batting .130 (3-23).

Catcher Cam Maron joins Pensacola from the Daytona Tortugas where he was batting .333 (9-27) with three runs, a home run, three RBIs and a stolen base.

The Blue Wahoos return home to face the Tennessee Smokies May 5th-9th. Come experience the first Thirsty Thursday of the year on May 7th! 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

Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
(Barrett McClean)		   



Southern League Stories from April 29, 2015


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