Wahoos Overcome Massive Deficit for Improbable 11-6 Win
August 25, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
PENSACOLA, Fla. - After Vladimir Gutierrez allowed six runs in the second inning of the game, Pensacola's playoff hopes seemed slim to none. However, the Wahoos came roaring back to win Saturday's contest 11-6 in front of a capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After he struck out the side in the first inning, Gutierrez's start came crumbling down. The first six BayBears all reached base safely in the second, and four of them came home to score. After Brandon Sandoval hit into a fielder's choice, Gutierrez walked Jam Jones-his third of the inning-to close out his shortest professional outing. He lasted just 1.1 innings and was on the hook for six runs on four hits, and the Wahoos looked out of it early, trailing 6-0.
Rather than fold, Pensacola engineered one of their best and most important comebacks of the season. After plucking a run back in the second inning, the Wahoos added two more in the fourth. Chris Okey walked to ignite the rally, Jose Siri tripled in the left field corner to bring the score to 6-2. He would score one batter later on a TJ Friedl groundout to second.
In the sixth, the Wahoos flipped the script on the BayBears with a five-run rally to take the lead. Okey singled off Matt Custred (L, 3-4) to get the rally started. After Friedl walked, Mitch Nay and Gavin LaValley swatted back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit down to a single run. Shed Long followed with a groundball to second that was mishandled by Jones, which allowed Nay to score and tie the game. Narcisco Crook followed Long with a two-run single, giving the Wahoos their first lead of the night at 8-6.
The bullpen was responsible for a lion's share of the work on Saturday. Rafael De Paula followed Gutierrez and turned in 3.2 shutout innings. Rookie Davis (W, 2-1) pitched a scoreless sixth inning as part of his MLB rehab assignment, and Robinson Leyer tossed two additional shutout innings. With the Wahoos leading 11-6 in the ninth, Jody Davis brought in his closer to secure Pensacola's first win since August 18.
With the win, in conjunction with the Shuckers 3-1 loss in Pearl, the Wahoos now trail the Shuckers by a half game in the second-half standings. In addition, the Wahoos trail Mobile by a half game in the wildcard standings.
RHP Tony Santillan (4-2, 3.78) will try to give the Wahoos a two-to-one series lead when he takes the hill on Sunday. Mobile will send RHP Jesus Castillo (8-4, 4.90) on the mound for game three. Sunday's game can be found on the radio at 97.1 The Ticket/1490 AM Milton, and www.bluewahoos.com, with live television coverage presented by BlabTV. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Southern League Stories from August 25, 2018
- Six-Run Second Inning Not Enough, as BayBears Fall to Wahoos - Mobile BayBears
- Four-Run First Inning Propels Generals to Fifth Straight Win - Jackson Generals
- Wahoos Overcome Massive Deficit for Improbable 11-6 Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Barons Bested by Generals, 7-3 - Birmingham Barons
- M-Braves Draw Within a Half-Game of First Place After 3-1 Win over Shuckers on Saturday - Mississippi Braves
- Biscuits Squeak by Smokies, 6-5 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Shrimp Surge Past Lookouts 5-4 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Smokies Comeback Falls Short in Montgomery - Knoxville Smokies
- Three-Run Third Enough for M-Braves to Top Shuckers - Biloxi Shuckers
- Barons to Sign Kolbe Thornbury - Birmingham Barons
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