Biscuits Clinch Series With 9-8 Comeback Win Over The Wahoos

August 23, 2012

Biscuits second baseman Derek Dietrich and designated hitter Ryan Garko hit back-to-back homers in the ninth, while Pensacola third baseman David Vidal drove home four runs, three thanks to a homer, as Montgomery defeated the Blue Wahoos in a 9-8 comeback victory on Wednesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The win clinches the series for the Biscuits and propels their second half record to 34-25, while the Fish fell to 29-30 since the season’s midpoint. Pensacola also dropped to five games behind Montgomery for first in the South Division.

The Blue Wahoos would start the scoring with a three-spot in the opening frame. Following base knocks from SS Miguel Rojas and RF Josh Fellhauer, CF Bryson Smith drove both home with a two-run triple down the right field line. Smith subsequently scored on Vidal’s sacrifice fly to center to cap the inning.

Montgomery narrowed the margin to 3-2 courtesy of single tallies in the third and fourth frames. CF Ty Morrison mashed a solo blast to right, his third of the season, while RF Mikie Mahtook took advantage of a pair of Blue Wahoos fielding miscues to cut the deficit to one.

Pensacola however, struck back with another three-run inning, this time in the fifth. Fellhauer and Smith both reached on base hits with one out, before Vidal launched his 11thh roundtripper of the year to left to take the team lead and put Pensacola ahead 6-2. LF Andrew Means in the next inning would bring home 2B P.J. Phillips with an RBI single to increase the Blue Wahoos’ advantage to 7-2.

A four-run seventh for the Biscuits would then make it a one-run game. Morrison and Dietrich recorded back-to-back runs-scoring singles to get the rally going, while Mahtook made it 7-6 with his two-run single to right.

Montgomery eventually entered the ninth trailing by a run, but took advantage of two longballs to grab their first and only lead of the game. Dietrich and Garko blasted their consecutive homers, the third of the season for Dietrich and eighth of Garko’s season. The Biscuits also added a key insurance run when 1B Michael Sheridan drove home Mahtook to go up 9-7.

The Blue Wahoos then mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run on base. Pinch hitter Ryan LaMarre led off with a double and was brought home on an RBI single by Billy Hamilton. Hamilton then stole second to extend his own single-season stolen base record to 148 thefts this year, but was left stranded in scoring position.

Pensacola starting pitcher Mark Serrano (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite allowing two runs, one of which was earned on four hits in his six innings, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss. Montgomery RHP C.J. Riefenhauser (1.0 IP) earned the win with a scoreless frame in relief, while LHP Chris Rearick (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) notched his second save of the year.

The Blue Wahoos and Biscuits are slated to face off for the final time this year Thursday night at the bayfront stadium, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. Pensacola is scheduled to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the mound, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Jacob Thompson.

By Andrew Green

Comments

One Response to “Biscuits Clinch Series With 9-8 Comeback Win Over The Wahoos”

  1. Jim on August 26th, 2012 10:43 am

    Way to go Biscuits!!!

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