Pensacola Blue Wahoos Shut Out BayBears 1-0 To Take Series

July 23, 2012

Five Blue Wahoos pitchers combined to bewilder BayBears batters to just two hits, while right fielder Josh Fellhauer drove home shortstop Billy Hamilton from first in the eighth for the game’s only tally of the contest as Pensacola shut out Mobile 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

The win improved the Fish’s second half record to 18-12 to guarantee at least a share of first place in the Southern League’s South Division with the Montgomery Biscuits. Mobile fell to 13-17 since the Southern League’s All-Star Break. The win gave the Blue Wahoos their ninth series victory in their last ten series dating back June 7-10 at Birmingham and their ninth shutout victory of the year.

Both teams were held scoreless until the eighth, when Pensacola plated the only score of the contest. Hamilton reached on an infield single, his third base knock of the contest, before coming around to score from first on Fellhauer’s double down the right field line.

After yielding just three hits last night, the Fish held BayBears batters to just two base hits in the series finale. Pensacola starter Wirfin Obispo (5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 SO) allowed just three base runners, including only one hit while striking out six in his scoreless five frames in his second start of the year.

Blue Wahoos relievers Wilkin De La Rosa (0.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO), Drew Hayes (0.2 IP, 2 SO), Brian Pearl (1.0 IP, 1 H) and Curtis Partch followed Obispo by combining for the final scoreless innings. Pearl earned the victory to bump his record to 1-1 this year, while Partch notched his sixth save in as many opportunities by tossing the last two frames.

BayBears starter Derek Eitel (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 SO) also did not factor in the decision after giving up five hits in his six scoreless frames, while LHP Eury De La Rosa (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 3-2 after allowing the game’s only run.

Mobile’s biggest threats to score came in the first and sixth frames, when the BayBears stranded a runner at third. CF Evan Fry led off with a walk and moved to third on a groundout, before RF Alfredo Marte was retired to end the frame. Fry again walked in the sixth and stole both second and third, but Hayes came on and struck out the next two hitters to end the potential peril.

Hamilton (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B) recorded a game-high three hits in the victory, while CF Ryan LaMarre (2-4) and 2B Brodie Greene (2-4) also collected multi-hit efforts in the win. Hamilton has now reached base in all 11 of his contests with Pensacola, tallying hits in all but two of those games, while Greene finished the four-game series with a .500 average (8-16) versus Mobile.

Following an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos will return to action on Tuesday night to begin a five-game series with the Huntsville Stars, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium, with both teams’ starters not yet announced for the series opener.

Fans attending Tuesday night’s contest are asked to wear red to the ballpark in honor of Pensacola’s affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds. Several Reds top front office members are also expected to be attendance, including General Manager Walt Jocketty, while the Blue Wahoos will be wearing authentic Reds uniforms.

By Andrew Green

Pictured: Wirfin Obispo fanned six and allowed just one hit in his five solid frames Sunday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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