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SL1 Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Wahoos Win Wild One 10-8 over Biloxi

May 4, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release


Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Brusdar Graterol
Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Brusdar Graterol
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos)

His head hit the left field wall padding, the ball landed in his glove and Ernie De La Trinidad tried to regather his wits.

Hours earlier Friday night, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos once held a nine-run lead, forged by Tanner English's first inning grand slam.

No one could have envisioned Trinidad's clutch, seventh-inning catch -- a foot short of a go-ahead, 3-run homer - would become difference-maker in his team's eventual 10-8 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

"After you hit the wall, you are trying to just get back to normal," said De La Trinidad, who went 3-for-4 at the plate as well. "So you're not right away jumping up and down, but they're always big."

The Blue Wahoos (18-10) once held a 10-1 lead to start the sixth inning. Starter Brusdar Graterol had worked five solid innings, allowing only a solo home run. He hit 102 mph with one fastball in the game.

But reliever Jovani Moran struggled. The Shuckers scored two in the sixth, then five in the seventh when Biloxi's Max McDowell batted with runners on first and second.

He launched a pitch from new reliever Alex Phillips deep into the sky toward a wind-aided left field area. The crowd of 4,880 reacted in collective groan.

"He got it good. (McDowell) has been hitting the ball good," said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. "So as I saw the ball losing speed, I said, nah, nah, get to the wall. And finally Trinidad made that play."

Trinidad's perspective?

"The ball went up really high and the wind was blowing out the whole game," he said. "At first I didn't think it was going to go out as far as it did. And Tanner (English) was right there, talking to me. 'He said you got it, you got it.'

"The ball was moving around a lot. It took a lot of concentration."

The game featured 24 hits, 10 pitchers, 20 runners left on base and took 3 hours, 37 minutes to complete.

"There was a lot of drama," Borrego said with a wry smile.

The final drama occurred in the eighth inning. Blue Wahoos' third baseman Joe Cronin made the other defensive gem to follow his big night at plate. Biloxi's Weston Wilson scorched a ball down the line with runners on first and second. Cronin turned his backhand stop into an inning-ending double play.

Cronin hit a 3-run homer in the fourth inning that staked the big lead. It was the first time this season the Blue Wahoos tallied double-digit runs.

But they nearly needed all of them.

"Approaching a four hour game like that, it was nice to get a win that way," English said. "It is a 140 game season, so it's hard to put emphasis on one game, because it is such a long season. But wins like that really help kick start you in the right direction."

English's two-out, two-strike grand slam in the first inning chased Biloxi starter Braden Webb after seven batters. Luis Arraez led off with a walk, and Alex Kirilloff followed with his first Double-A hit, a no doubt laser single to center. Jaylin Davis and Travis Blankenhorn followed with walks to force in a run.

But Webb recorded consecutive strikeouts and was poised for a third when English jumped on a curve ball and blasted it toward the water beyond left field. It was the Blue Wahoos first grand slam since May 2, 2018 when Gavin LaValley hit one.

"I may have had one (grand slam) in pro ball... I'm not sure.. but probably not," English said. "I actually never know when balls I hit are going to go out, so I just put my head down and started running.

"And I kinda have to look at umpires and see them signaling to know the ball went out. Normally, I have no idea."

Eight of the nine Blue Wahoos batters reached base in the game. Seven different players had a hit. Arraez went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Taylor Grzelakowski went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Kirilloff, the No. 8 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, who made his Double-A debut Thursday, reached base four times on a single, twice being hit by a pitch and drawing a walk in another at-bat.

BALLPARK MEMORIES

The first 2,000 fans in the ballpark Friday received a Blue Wahoos' logo cell phone ring, provided by game sponsor Select Physical Therapy.

The National Anthem was performed by more than 40 members of the C.W. Ruckel Middle School Ambassadors Chorus. The school is located in Niceville.

The chorus was preceded by the NATTC color guard.

The Booker T. Washington High baseball team attended the game as part of the groups at the ballpark.

Check out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Statistics




Images from this story

Tanner English of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos receives congratulations after his first inning grand slam
Tanner English of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos receives congratulations after his first inning grand slam
 Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Brusdar Graterol
Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Brusdar Graterol
  



Southern League Stories from May 4, 2019


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