SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Wahoos Maintain Division Lead Despite Loss

Published on September 3, 2015 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos struggles against perennial Southern League contender the Mobile BayBears continued Thursday.

Mobile, just an hour west of Pensacola, is now, 12-4, this season against the Blue Wahoos and 51-32 since the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate was established in 2012.

Pensacola managed three hits in a shutout loss, 3-0, against Mobile in front of 4,572 Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Blue Wahoos right fielder Juan Duran, who had two of Pensacola's three hits on two infield singles, launched a fly ball to dead center with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning but Mobile center fielder Evan Marzilli hauled it in with his back to the wall.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he knew Duran didn't get all of the ball to drive it 400-feet over the center field wall.

"I knew he missed it," Kelly said. "But he's so strong he can miss balls and still hit home runs. It did go 395 feet."

Pensacola is on a 1-4 slide in its last five games against the Jackson Generals and Mobile, but it has been lucky to stay on top of the Southern League South Division. The Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the Mississippi Braves lost to the Jacksonville Suns on a walk off three-run home run in the 10th inning and fell to 35-30. Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos also lost but dropped to 36-30 to remain a half-game ahead in the second half of the season.

Kelly said Pensacola was snake-bitten Thursday night, especially after Duran's smash down the third base line in the second inning hit the umpire and bounced into Mobile third baseman Raul Navarro's mitt in the second inning. Duran singled but the odd play seemed to rob Duran of a sure double.

Duran then threw a strike on a hit-and-run play from right field in the fourth inning that looked like it beat Mobile left fielder Socrates Brito to third base. However, according to Kelly who ran on to the field to argue the play, the third base umpire said Blue Wahoos third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean tagged the runner high.

Mobile ended up scoring three runs in the fourth with Brito and second baseman Garrett Weber hitting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Pensacola starter Daniel Wright then walked right fielder Gabriel Guerrero and threw seven straight balls.

Mark Thomas, batting .163, came to the plate with one out and clobbered a double over Pensacola center fielder Beau Amaral's head into the left-center alley to clear the bases and Mobile was ahead, 3-0.

"Everyone in the ballpark, including the runner, knew he was out," Kelly said about the play at third on Brito.

Mobile, which has had six players from its 2015 team make their Major League debut this year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, got a strong outing from new pitcher Matt Koch, who earned his first win. He was making his first start for Mobile after a trade earlier this month between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets. He allowed two hits in 7.1 innings, walked four and tied his season-high with six strikeouts.

After Duran's smash in the second inning, Koch settled down and retired the next 16 of 17 batters through the seventh inning. Koch allowed a runner to second base twice - once when Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth reached the bag in the fifth inning and again in the seventh inning when Duran earned an infield single up the middle.

Kelly only had praise for Koch's slider and cutter.

"We knew he had good stuff," Kelly said. "It's hard when you haven't seen the guy before."

Pensacola is looking to make its first postseason appearance since its inaugural season in 2012 and end the longest drought of missing the playoffs by a Southern League Major League affiliate. The Cincinnati Reds last Double-A team to make the playoffs was Chattanooga in 2006.

"It's one of five games," Kelly said. "It tightens things up. It still comes down to winning this series. If we can win this series, they can't catch us."

GAME NOTES

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the second game of a five-game series at 6:35 p.m. Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate the Mobile BayBears. RHP Sal Romano (0-4, 12.50) is scheduled to take the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the BayBears RHP Brandon Sinnery (5-7, 4.87).

During the Mobile series, the Blue Wahoos are collecting donations for The Beacon, a Shelter for Women and Children. Items needed include diapers, toiletry items and feminine hygiene products. These items can be dropped off at all gate

The first 2,000 fans on FANtastic Friday will receive a Blue Wahoos and University of West Florida football courtesy of Select Physical Therapy.

The games are 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 Right fielder Juan Duran earned two of Pensacola's three hits in the game, going 2-4 with two infield singles. He also hit a deep fly ball to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning...Pensacola third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean is now 8-22 in his last six games (.363) and got the only other Blue Wahoos hit in the game...Pensacola starter Daniel Wright gave up three runs on five hits in five innings, walking one and striking out six batters.

The Blue Wahoos are closing out the regular season against the Mobile BayBears. Don't miss your chance to experience family-fun entertainment with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.

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Southern League Stories from September 3, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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