Blue Wahoos Beat Mississippi Braves 4-3 To Open Series

August 26, 2012

Blue Wahoos right fielder P.J. Phillips blasted his second homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fifth, while shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 149th base and scored the winning run on a wild pitch, as Pensacola topped the Mississippi Braves 4-3 on Saturday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.

With the win the Fish improved to 31-30 in the second half of the season to remain to within 2.5 games behind the Montgomery Biscuits for first place in the South Division, thanks to their loss to the Jacksonville Suns Saturday. The Braves fell to 28-33 since the season’s All-Star Break.

Pensacola plated the game’s first score in the opening frame. Hamilton led off with a single, stole second for his 149th of the year and advanced to third on an error, before coming home on a double play to put the Fish ahead 1-0. Hamilton continues to extend his single-season steals record, which he broke earlier this week against Montgomery.

The Blue Wahoos would then extend the margin to three in the fifth thanks to the longball. After 1B Donald Lutz began with single, Phillips powered the 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for his second roundtripper of the year and his first since May 5 against Jackson.

Mississippi would answer and tally their first run of the game in the bottom of the inning. LF Alden Carrithers drew a leadoff free pass and took second on a walk, before CF Todd Cunningham sent him home with a run-scoring single to right.

Following a two hour and 29 minute rain delay, the Braves would eventually tie it at 3-3 in the seventh. Pinch hitter Jason Christian began the inning with a free pass and moved to second on 1B Joe Terdoslavich’s walk before scoring on an RBI single by C Evan Gattis. Terdoslavich would score later on the play to draw the contest even.

Pensacola grabbed the lead for good however in the ninth thanks to small ball. Hamilton reached on a bunt single and got to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout, prior to taking advantage of a wild pitch to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.

Both starters did not factor in the decisions due to the precipitation despite good outings. Blue Wahoos starter Wirfin Obispo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) gave up a lone earned run on just three hits in his five frames, while Braves LHP Jose Lugo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) yielded three earned runs on three hits while fanning four.

Pensacola reliever Curtis Partch (1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) earned the victory with his 1.1 shutout frames in relief, while RHP Justin Freeman (1.0) notched his 15th save of the year with a perfect ninth. Braves RHP Mark Lamm (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-7 after allowing the final tally on two hits in two innings pitched.

The two teams are slated to play a double header Sunday afternoon, with the first game a makeup for Friday night’s scheduled contest beginning at 4:00 p.m. Both games will last seven innings. LHP Tony Cingrani is expected to get the start in the first game for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP David Hale will get the start for the Braves. RHP Chad Rogers is scheduled to toe the rubber in the second contest for Pensacola, facing Mississippi RHP J.R. Graham.

The final Blue Wahoos homestand of the season begins on Thurdsay, August 30 at 7:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

By Andrew Green

Pictured: P.J. Phillips mashed his second homer of the year in Pensacola’s 4-3 win over Mississippi. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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