Blue Wahoos Top Braves 4-2

May 25, 2012

Pensacola left fielder Yordanys Perez homered as part of a two-hit effort and center fielder Ryan LaMarre threw two runners out at home plate, while the bullpen trio of Clayton Tanner, Curtis Partch and Donnie Joseph held Mississippi to just three hits in the final 3.1 frames, as the Blue Wahoos defeated the Braves 4-2 in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

It was the 15th sellout crowd the Blue Wahoos have played in front of this year, in their 21st home opening this year. The victory improves Pensacola’s record to 23-24, while the defeat drops Mississippi to 20-26 in 2012.

Perez got the scoring started for the Blue Wahoos in the second, when he lifted a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to grab a 1-0 lead. It was the third longball of the year in Perez’s first year at professional level, as well as his second in three contests.

Pensacola would then increase the margin to three in the fourth with a pair of clutch two-out at bats. Perez drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single, while C Mark Fleury drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0.

The Braves however would narrow the deficit to one with single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings, both thanks to 3B Joe Leonard. The third baseman began the fifth frame with a homer to left, and then brought in SS Andrelton Simmons in the following frame with a single.

Mississippi was kept off the scoreboard twice thanks to Blue Wahoos CF Ryan LaMarre, who threw out baserunners attempting to score in the third and sixth innings. LaMarre now has 11 outfield assists this season, ranking him first in the Southern League by a wide margin.

Pensacola starter J.C. Sulbaran (5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after allowing just two earned runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings, while Tanner, Partch and Joseph combined to shut down the Braves from there in support of Sulbaran. Tanner (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Partch (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) each notched holds for their efforts, while Joseph (1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) converted his Southern League leading 11th save of the year in 12 opportunities. Braves starting pitcher Gary Moran (5,1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year after giving up three runs on five hits in 5.1 frames.

It was Perez’s (2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) fourth multi-hit outing in his last six contests, while RF Josh Fellhauer (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) also collected two hits for the Blue Wahoos. Leonard (2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI), along with CF Todd Cunningham (2-5), C Christian Bethancourt (2-4) and RF Cory Harrilchak (2-3) all recorded two base knocks for the Braves in the loss.

With the series tied, Pensacola and Mississippi will meet again Friday night, with first pitch set for 7:00 pm. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is slated to take the bump for the Blue Wahoos, while the Braves are expected to give the ball to LHP Luis Avilan in the third game of the series.

All fans are asked to wear blue for Friday night’s game in honor of two-time NFL champion and New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, who will be on hand to throw out a first pitch. Fans will also want to arrive early, as the first 2,000 fans to enter the gates will receive a special patriotic Blue Wahoos cap courtesy of Virginia College.

By Andrew Green

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports