Smokies Topple Pensacola Wahoos 7-3 In 15 Innings

September 3, 2012


Tennessee shortstop Junior Lake blasted a three-run homer as part of a four run fifteenth inning and drove home a total of four runs as the Smokies defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 7-3 on Sunday afternoon in the longest game in the short history of Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The victory pushed the Smokies to a 36-33 record in the second half of the year, while the defeated dropped Pensacola to an even 34-34 mark since the league’s midpoint of the season. The game set team records for duration by innings played (15) and game time (4:48). The two clubs also combined for 25 hits and 27 runners left on base.

During the contest, the Cincinnati Reds announced they expect to promote Blue Wahoos LHP Tony Cingrani to the Major Leagues on Tuesday. Cingrani, who is expected to be promoted along with former RHP Pedro Villarreal on that day, would become the sixth Blue Wahoos alum to be promoted to the Big Leagues this year.

After both clubs were held scoreless through the first five extra frames, Tennessee power ahead with their big four-run frame. 2B Logan Watkins began the rally with a single and then took second on a sacrifice bunt, while 1B Justin Bour was intentionally walked to bring up Lake, who drove the 2-0 pitch over the left field wall to push the Smokies ahead 6-3. Tennessee added another insurance run in the frame after CF Rubi Silva tripled and was brought home on an RBI groundout.

Entering the seventh down 3-1, the Blue Wahoos forced extra innings by plating two tallies in the bottom of the frame. RF Josh Fellhauer singled before CF Bryson Smith sent Fellhauer in with a run-scoring triple to right-center field. Smith would subsequently score on an RBI double by 1B Beau Mills down the right field line.

Tennessee plated single scores in the first, sixth and seventh innings, with Watkins driving home two of those three runs. The second baseman lined a run-scoring double to left-center in the first and later recorded a second RBI with his sacrifice fly to right. The Smokies broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth when Lake lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

The Blue Wahoos answered Tennessee’s first tally with a score of their own in the first. Smith rached on a single and then advanced to a second on a wild pitch, before he came plateward on a run-scoring double by Beau Mills down the first base line.

LF Donald Lutz (2-6, 1 BB) joined Mills (2-7, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Fellhauer (2-5, 1 R, 2 BB) and Smith (3-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI) to record multi-hit efforts for Pensacola in the loss, while five Smokies hitters totaled two or more base knocks. 3B Matt Cerda (3-7, 1 R, 1 RBI) led Tennessee with three hits, in addition to two-hit games from Watkins (2-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) and Silva (2-7, 1 R, 1 3B) , along with C Mike Brenly (2-5, 2 BB) and LF Jae-Hoon Ha (2-6, 1 R).

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos combined to use 12 pitchers, including starters, with Tennessee LHP Casey Harman (4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earning the victory to improve to1-4 in 2012. Pensacola RHP Michael Griffin (2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB) suffered the loss to fall to 1-1. Relievers Chris Manno (0.1 IP), Curtis Partch (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO), Justin Freeman (2.0 IP, 1 H) and Wilkin De La Rosa (1.0 IP, 1 BB) together fired 5.1 shutout frames in relief.

During the contest a woman in a dog costume ran onto the field and took 2B Brodie Greene’s hat off between innings, before being caught by stadium security and escorted away. Though appearing random, it was actually a planned stunt to help raise money for a local individual with cancer. To find out more information, please contact Shelley Yates at SYates@BlueWahoos.com.

The two teams will face off in the final game of the inaugural 2012 season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Blue Wahoos RHP Mark Serrano (7-4, 3.49) is scheduled to get the start, with the Smokies planning to give the nod to LHP Austin Kirk (1-0, 3.57).

By Andrew Green

Pictured: Beau Mills recorded two hits and drove home two runs Sunday afternoon. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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