Wahoos Shut Out in Doubleheader

July 7, 2013

The Jackson Generals pitching staff limited the Pensacola Blue ahoos to a combined three hits in Saturday’s doubleheader, winning game one 3-0 before swiping game two 5-0 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038, the 18th sellout of the season.

Jackson starter Roenis Elias shut down Pensacola’s offense in game one, limiting the Wahoos to two hits over six innings, striking out eight and walking just one. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of the seven-inning contest before Travis Mattair led off the frame with a single. Elias improved to 5-7 with his 12th quality outing of the season.

The Generals provided all the offense they would need in the second inning against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe. Jackson loaded the bases with nobody out against Crabbe and took a 1-0 lead on a John Hicks sacrifice fly. Denny Almonte followed with an RBI double before Gabriel Noriega made it 3-0 with another sacrifice fly to center.

Crabbe took the loss, falling to 3-7 by allowing three runs on four hits in five innings. Brian Pearl and Chris Manno tossed scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen.

Pensacola never put multiple runners on in any inning, and never had a runner move into scoring position. Carson Smith picked up his ninth save of the year with a 1-2-3 seventh.

The story was more of the same in Jackson’s 5-0 win in game two. The Generals jumped on top with two runs in the top of the first against Wahoos starter Ryan Dennick with RBI base knocks coming from Steven Proscia and Ramon Morla. An inning later, Jack Marder scored on a wild pitch to put Jackson on top 3-0.

In the fourth inning, the Generals added to their lead against Dennick. With the bases loaded and one out, Proscia brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0. Morla followed with a single to left that Donald Lutz mishandled, allowing Chris Taylor to come around and score the fifth run of the game.

Dennick dropped to 4-10 on the year while going a season-low four innings. The southpaw allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Anthony Vasquez dominated the Wahoos again, much like Elias in the first game. Vasquez carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Marquez Smith singled to break up the no-hit bid. Vasquez picked up his first win in three starts with the Generals, allowing just one hit in six innings.

Combined in 14 innings, the Wahoos offense managed just three hits, five walks and never had a runner move past first base.

The series continues with the fourth game of five on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Daniel Renken (2-6, 3.87) will toe the rubber for Pensacola against Jackson southpaw James Gilheeney (3-3, 3.63).

story by Kevin Burke

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