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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Vincej Three-Run Homer Lifts Pensacola to Victory

May 21, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Zach Vincej of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Zach Vincej of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Credit: Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com)

PENSACOLA, Fla., - Zach Vincej came into Thursday's game hitting .200 with only one run-batted in for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

However, the shortstop went 2-4 on the night, launching a three-run line drive over the left field wall that gave him his first homer of the year and raised his average to .220.

Vincej's homer also lifted Pensacola to a six-run sixth inning and a victory, 8-5, in the opening of the five-game series with the Jackson Generals in front of 4,227 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Vincej, who was coming off of seven days on the disabled list with a left wrist contusion, said it felt good to get all of the hanging curveball from Jackson reliever Jordan Shippers, who was pounding him inside with fastballs.

"I've had a couple frustrating months myself personally," Vincej said. "I had to remind myself it's a long season and you just have to be resilient at the end of the day. I knew I got a good piece of it. It was a nice feeling. I'm glad everything worked out."

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said a home run is a home run.

"It was great," said Kelly, whose team is now on a 10-4 winning streak since May 7. "Fortunately, they give you the same number of points whether it goes over by an inch or 100-feet. Zach has had a tough time. But since he's spent time on the DL, he's been swinging the bat well since he has come back."

Six of the Blue Wahoos eight runs - the most they've scored in a game this season - came from the bottom four batters in the order: third baseman Juan Perez, Vincej, DH Cam Maron and left fielder Juan Silva.

"We had six RBIs and six runs scored from the bottom of the lineup," Kelly said. "That's huge. Now, everybody is kind of on a roll."

Jackson went ahead, 3-2, in the top of the sixth inning on five walks, four by Pensacola reliever Layne Somsen who lasted 0.1 innings and was charged with the runs.

That's when the Blue Wahoos came right back with six straight runners on base, who all scored to put Pensacola back on top, 8-3.

"We're believing in each other," Vincej said of Pensacola, which improved to 18-23 on the season. "If they put three, we can put up three, as well. We have to keep our confidence going."

GAME NOTES

The second game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Friday with the Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate Jackson Generals. RHP Timothy Adleman (1-3, 1.64) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Generals LHP Misael Siveria (1-3, 4.46).

The first 2,000 fans on FANtastic Friday will receive a free cup from Red Fish Blue Fish, a Pensacola Beach restaurant. Fans will be able to get free refills from Red Fish Blue Fish with that cup all summer long.

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 Left fielder Juan Silva electrified the Pensacola Blue Wahoos crowd when he struck a double in the fifth inning to score Cam Maron from first base. Silva went 3-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBIs...Shortstop Zach Vincej smashed a three-run homer, his first of the year, and went 2-4 with three RBIs...Second baseman Ryan Wright has hit in 17 of his last 21 games, going 2-4 with an RBI and walk.

2014 PITCHING ALUMNI UPDATE Louisville Bats righty Jon Moscot (6-0, 2.06) remains undefeated for the season for the Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate. Moscot, a mainstay in the Blue Wahoos rotation most of last year, pitched Wednesday against the Norfolk Tides and allowed only one hit during his six innings and one unearned run. Moscot has allowed less than three runs in all six of his victories.

Meanwhile, Michael Lorenzen, who pitched his first full-season with the Blue Wahoos last season, was moved to the Reds bullpen since the team has three days off between Memorial Day on Monday and June 1 and decided to go with a four-man rotation. On June 2, Cincinnati starts a stretch of 20 games in 20 days.

In three starts and two relief appearances with the Reds, Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA. He has struck out 11 batters in 19 innings.

Unfortunately, Gulf Breeze product Ben Lively lost his first start of the season to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Double-A Eastern League this week. He coughed up five runs on seven hits during 8.1 innings on the mound. Lively is 3-1 with a 3.50 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 12 walks in 43.2 innings.

SUPPORT THE TROOPS During the month of May, the Blue Wahoos and Whataburger are teaming up to collect donations for USA Northwest Florida. The USO will deliver the items directly to the troops currently serving the United States. Fans who donate during the drive will receive a coupon for a free Whataburger. This series, fans can drop off center supplies such as copy paper, dish soap, batteries and paper towels. Bottled water will be accepted all month long.

The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jackson Generals May 21st-25th. Come experience the family-fun entertainment! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos andtwitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.

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Images from this story

Zach Vincej of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Zach Vincej of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos
(Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com)		   



Southern League Stories from May 21, 2015


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