Wahoos Pound Barons 16-8

August 3, 2013

The Blue Wahoos bats awakened in the first trip to Regions Field to the tune of a franchise-record 16 runs in a 16-8 win over the Birmingham Barons on Friday night. In addition to setting the franchise record for runs scored, Pensacola also broke the franchise record with 17 hits.

Pensacola fell behind early in the contest on a second-inning homer from Dan Black but responded in a big way in the third inning. Facing Scott Carroll, a minor league rehabber, the Wahoos put up five runs in the third inning. All five runs scored with two outs as Yorman Rodriguez smashed a two-run bases loaded double to right before Donald Lutz launched a three-run homer to right to make it 5-1. For Lutz, it was his first homer since April 21 for Pensacola.

Birmingham responded with a solo homer from former Wahoo Cody Puckett in the last of the third before taking the lead in the fourth with a five-spot of their own to take a 7-5 lead. All five runs were charged to starter Jon Moscot, who in his Double-A debut, gave up seven runs on seven hits in 3+ innings. Chris Manno came on to restore order with three scoreless frames, improving to 3-2 on the year.

Trailing 7-5 heading to the fifth, Pensacola put up 10 runs over the next three frames. In the fifth, Mike Costanzo’s two-run, two-out double tied the game up at seven. An inning later, Devin Lohman brought home another pair of runs with a two-out single that doubled the lead to make it 9-5.

The Wahoos blew the game open in the seventh inning, batting for the cycle as a team. Pensacola scored six runs on seven hits, including four doubles, a triple, and homer. Travis Mattair drove home two with a triple, Brandon Short and Ryan LaMarre brought home a run with doubles and Lohman capped things off with a two-run blast, his seventh of the season.

The teams traded runs in the last of the eighth and top of the ninth to account for the final two runs of the contest.

All nine hitters recorded at least a hit and scored a run in the offensive outburst while seven players recorded an RBI. Lohman (3-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI) led the charge along with five other players that record multi-hit games: Costanzo (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI), Rodriguez (2-for-6, R, 2 RBI), Lutz (2-for-6, 2 R, 3 RBI), LaMarre (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI), and Chang (3-5, 3 R).

J.R. Ballinger (1-1) took the loss for Birmingham, allowing five runs on four hits with three walks in an inning and a third. Caroll received a no-decision despite allowing five runs on five hits in 3.1 frames.

The Blue Wahoos remain four games back of the Jacksonville Suns, with each of the South Division foes picking up wins on Friday night. Pensacola and Birmingham battle again on Saturday night from Regions Field. Daniel Renken (5-7, 3.37) gets the ball for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Stephen McCray (9-7, 3.49). First pitch is scheduled from 6:30 p.m.

story by Kevin Burke

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