Wahoos Slip Past Smokies 5-4

April 8, 2013

After two days of struggling at the dish, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos used a balanced attack in a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies on Sunday afternoon in front of the fourth straight sellout crowd to start the 2013 campaign at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It wasn’t without stress, however, as Tennessee had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth before Curtis Partch got Jonathan Mota to ground out to end the game.

The Wahoos broke out of their semi-dry spell by pounding 10 hits, highlighted by a three-run home run in the last of the sixth from Donald Lutz that put Pensacola up 5-2. It was Lutz’s second dinger of the year.

Pensacola jumped on top early in the first with a two-out, two-run double from Steve Selsky, scoring Ray Chang and Bryson Smith. Selsky was one of six Wahoos with at least one base knock in the ball game. Chang and Smith accrued three hits and two runs apiece to lead the Wahoos offense.

Ryan Dennick (1-0) picked up the win in his first start of the season. The left-hander, acquired from the Royals organization in the offseason, went 5 innings and yielded two runs on four hits. The only two tallies he gave up were in the third. With two outs, Jae-Hoon Ha walked and scored on a double by Justin Bour, who was then promptly brought home on an RBI single by Mota.

Tennessee added single runs in the eighth and ninth, but weren’t able to scratch across the tying run. Partch picked up his first save of the season by pitching the final two frames.

Smokies starter Kyle Hendricks (0-1) was handed the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in five frames, including the Lutz blast.

With the Wahoos scoring five runs, fans can take advantage of Papa John’s special offer. All fans can get 50% off online orders tomorrow by going to papajohns.com and entering promo code: WAHOOS to redeem their offer.

The five-game series concludes tomorrow as Pensacola right-hander Daniel Renken battles with Tennessee righty Dae-Eun Rhee in the rubber game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. It is FSU day at the park with former Seminole kicker Graham Gano on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

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


Comments

One Response to “Wahoos Slip Past Smokies 5-4”

  1. Sharon on April 8th, 2013 6:38 pm

    Way To Go Wahoos! Enjoyed watching the game…..

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