Wahoos Fall To The Suns 6-1; Hamilton Steals No. 109

July 15, 2012

Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 109th base of the season, while Jacksonville starter Bryan Evans combined with relievers Jordan Conley and Joshua Schmidt to hold Pensacola to just one run as the Suns topped the Fish 6-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The loss dropped Pensacola to a 14-9 record in the second half, while Jacksonville improved to a 10-13 mark since the league’s All-Star Break. The capacity crowd hosted by the club was the 31st of the year in their 46th home opening of the 2012 campaign. Before the game Gulf Breeze High School graduate and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin threw out a ceremonial first pitch, while the Blue Wahoos also sported special jerseys that were auctioned off during the game to help benefit Autism research.

Evans (5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) earned the win to improve to 3-6 after yielding the lone earned run on six hits in his 5.1 innings, while Conley (2.2 IP, 1 H, 4 SO) and Schmidt (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) teamed up to allow just two hits in the final 3.2 scoreless frames. Blue Wahoos starter Kyle Lotzkar (4.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO) suffered the defeat after allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on two hits in four innings.

The Suns struck first in the opening frame, using just one hit to plate three tallies. LF Jake Smolinski was hit by a pitch and SS Chris Gutierrez drew a free pass before a double steal moved both into scoring position. Smolinski would come home when 1B Curt Smith reached on a fielding miscue, while Gutierrez and Smith came plateward thanks to C Kyle Skipworth’s two-run double to center to make it 3-0.

Pensacola would then bring home their only score of the contest in the third. Hamilton began the frame with a walk, stole second and reached third on an error prior to LF Josh Fellhauer’s run-scoring single up the middle. The swiped bag was the fifth for Hamilton since being promoted to the Blue Wahoos from High-A Bakersfield, and his 109thh overall this year. The speedster now ranks ninth all-time in a single season in Minor League baseball history as he continues to chase Vince Coleman’s record of 145 in 1983 while he was with Macon.

Jacksonville would follow with a pair of runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to add to their margin. 2B Paul Gran singled, advanced to second when Smith was hit by a pitch and third on a fielder’s choice before he was sent home on RF Kyle Jensen’s single, while Smith would come across on an RBI groundout. The Suns got their additional insurance run in the following frame when Smolinski scored on a double play.

Wahoos CF Bryson Smith (2-4) and 2B Miguel Rojas (2-4) each collected two hits in the contest for Pensacola, while no Suns batters recorded a multi-hit effort. Skipworth (1-2, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB) however, did reach base three times thanks to a pair of base-on-balls in addition to his two-run double.

The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. from the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is expected to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the hill, while Jacksonville is slated to give the nod to LHP Jose Alvarez for the second game of the series.

By Andrew Green

Pictured: Miguel Rojas recorded two hits in the Wahoos’ 6-1 loss Saturday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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