Wahoos Win, 10-9, on Walk-Off Double by Berset
Published on May 23, 2014 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Pensacola Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields sat in the dugout before Friday's game with the Birmingham Barons and had two wishes.
He hoped the hitters would start hitting. They did. He hoped the bullpen would protect a lead. They didn't.
But Pensacola still won, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull out a, 10-9, victory over Birmingham in front of a second-straight sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Wahoos catcher Chris Berset hit a walk-off double when he lined a shot to deep right field that Barons outfielder Josh Richmond dropped when he crashed into the wall. It allowed both Rey Navarro and Steve Selsky to score the tying and winning runs.
It was only the second time in 26 games that Pensacola won after trailing in the eighth inning. And it was only the third time in 10 games they've scored seven runs or more.
The team leaped out of the dugout and mugged Berset as they celebrated the thrilling come-from-behind victory near the pitcher's mound. Berset even got a face full of shaving cream in the locker room in appreciation.
"It was worth it," said Berset, as he wiped the shaving cream from his ears. "It's a great win for the guys. Coach told us that we have to fight out there. We were all grinding out our at bats."
Pensacola jumped on top 6-1 after the second inning and then led 6-3 after the sixth inning when starter Jon Moscot left the game. Pensacola relievers then promptly gave up six runs in the seventh and eighth and the Wahoos found themselves trailing, 9-7, headed into their last at bat in the ninth. Ray Chang started off the rally by reaching first on a catcher's interference and scoring on a Navarro double, which was his third hit of the night in five at bats. He also scored three runs and knocked in two more.
"It would have been a shame for our boys if we lost that game tonight," DeShields said. "They battled back. They really needed this."
Wahoos fans had plenty to celebrate Friday night. Fan favorite Donald Lutz earned his second trip to the Cincinnati Reds. Plus, highly touted former Gulf Breeze High School pitcher Ben Lively, one of the Reds top prospects, took the mound again for the organization's Class A Bakersfield Blaze and was going for his eighth win.
Southern League Stories from May 23, 2014
- BayBears Burn Smokies for 7-1 Victory - Mobile BayBears
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