Thrilling Comeback Falls Short as Blue Wahoos Drop Finale
May 28, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Pearl, Miss. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came agonizingly close to completing a dramatic comeback on Sunday night, but fell 6-5 to the Mississippi Braves in their series finale.
Trailing 6-3 going into the ninth, the Blue Wahoos rallied back as Nasim Nuñez narrowly missed a game-tying three-run homer, instead settling for an RBI single off the right field wall. Nuñez was stranded as the tying run at third as Victor Mesa Jr. lined out to right field to end the game.
In an uncharacteristically shaky outing, Patrick Monteverde (L, 5-1) allowed six runs over 3.0 innings to take his first loss of the season.
The Blue Wahoos took two early leads against Luis De Avila (W, 2-4), as Cody Morissette and José Devers hit RBI singles in the second and third innings, but the Braves answered back against Monteverde each time. Mississippi took the lead for good with a four-run third, capped by an RBI single from Beau Philip.
In a rarity, each team finessed a steal of home on a double steal attempt. Pensacola brought home Mesa from third on a Devers steal in the third inning, marking their second steal of home in a week but just their sixth in team history. The Braves returned the favor in the bottom of the third as Justin Dean came home on a Luke Waddell steal.
With two on and two out in the ninth in a one-run game, the Braves called upon Trey Riley (S, 1) to go after Mesa. The Pensacola center fielder blistered a liner to right-center, where it was caught by Jesse Franklin V to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos remain 5.0 games ahead of second place Biloxi and Montgomery in the South Division with 24 games to play in the first half.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos continue their road trip on Tuesday as they travel to Biloxi to take on the Shuckers. First pitch from MGM Park is scheduled for 6:35, with a live broadcast beginning at 6:30 on BlueWahoos.com, the MiLB First Pitch app (radio), Bally Live and MiLB.tv (video).For more information, visit BlueWahoos.com or contact the box office at (850) 934-8444.
Southern League Stories from May 28, 2023
- M-Braves Hold on Late to Split Series with Pensacola, 6-5 - Mississippi Braves
- Trash Pandas Fall to Lookouts in Finale 5-3 - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Thrilling Comeback Falls Short as Blue Wahoos Drop Finale - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits Dominate Shuckers to Split Series, 11-3 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Shuckers Drop Finale to Biscuits, 11-3 - Biloxi Shuckers
- Barons Use Three Crooked Innings to Salvage Series Finale against Smokies - Knoxville Smokies
- Ben Joyce Joins Angels for MLB Debut - Rocket City Trash Pandas
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