The Blue Wahoos used a strong start from Daniel Renken and timely hitting to defeat the Tennessee Smokies 2-1 on Monday night in front of 4,328 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win gave Pensacola its first series victory of the season.

Renken (1-0) tossed a spectacular seven frames, yielding just a first-inning run on a sac fly from Justin Bour. The right-hander needed only 86 pitches to get through seven innings, retiring the final seven he faced and 13 of the final 15 overall. Logan Ondrusek and Lee Hyde allowed a single but nothing more in their two combined innings of relief. Hyde picked up his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Pensacola’s offense was silent through four innings but got on the board in the fifth against Tennessee starter Dae-Eun Rhee and reliever Brian Schlitter. Rhee loaded the bases with one out and was lifted for Schlitter who gave up an RBI single to Devin Lohman, the first batter he faced. Schlitter was able to avoid further damage by inducing a double play from Steve Selsky.

An inning later, Pensacola took the lead off Schlitter. Donald Lutz reached on an error by the second baseman and Travis Mattair drove him home with a double just inside the chalk down the right field line. Mattair’s hit snapped an 0-for-12 skid since a homer in his first at bat of the season on Thursday night.

Brodie Greene continued his hot start for the Wahoos, going 2-for-2 to extend his hitting streak to eight games dating back to the end of last season.

The Wahoos will take the day off on Tuesday before they travel to Mobile on Wednesday night for the first installment of the Bay-to-Bay series with the BayBears. Chad Rogers (1-0, 3.60) will toe the rubber for Pensacola against Mobile southpaw David Holmberg (0-0, 0.00). First pitch from Hank Aaron Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.

Story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.