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Pensacola Blue Wahoos Drop Third Straight To Jacksonville, 4-3
July 2, 2014
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Jesse Winker saved a run in the fifth inning by throwing out a runner with a 300-foot laser beam to catcher Ross Perez at home.
Winker then smashed his first Double-A homer with a 410-foot shot to centerfield in the eighth inning that pulled Pensacola within a run of the Jacksonville Suns, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
In the end, Pensacola dropped its third straight game to the Suns by that same score. The one-run loss makes the Wahoos 13-19 on the season in those tight games.
Winker, who’s now on a five-game hitting streak, said he remains confident at the plate, despite his .209 batting average in 12 games since being called up from High-A Bakersfield Blaze. In Bakersfield, he had hit .311 with eight home runs and 41 RBI.
“I’m trying to go to the plate every time and put a good swing on the ball,” Winker said. “The ball seems to be finding the barrel right now and eventually I hope it finds the gaps and finds the holes.”
Winker, who is the Cincinnati Reds No. 4 prospect, was recently chosen to play in the 16th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures game for the U.S. team against the World team. Wahoos pitcher Robert Stephenson made the team, too, that will be played at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at Target Field as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday and air live on television on MLB Network and MLB.com.
“It’s a true honor to get to represent the Reds and the U.S.,” Winker said. “It’s a big honor. But I’m hoping we win a lot before I leave for the game. We could easily be 9-4, instead of 4-9. It’s too early in the second half, though, to get frustrated. I feel we’ll make a good push and storm the bay.”
Blue Wahoos manager Delino DeShields said he hopes Winker’s solo blast boosts his confidence.
“He really swung the bat tonight,” DeShields said. “He caught that Gulf breeze up there.”
DeShields also praised Wahoos starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who threw six innings and gave up two unearned runs, while striking out five. The two runs scored after an error by shortstop Deven Lohman.
The Suns Austin Nola, who has a 13-game hitting streak, hit a triple to the right center gap that scored two runs. However, Lorenzen left with a 2-2 tie after Perez’s double in the fourth inning scored two runs.
“(Lorenzen) was solid tonight,” DeShields said. “He should have had a shutout. That was one of his better efforts on the season.”
The fourth game of the five-game series with Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate the Jacksonville Suns gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. RHP Robert Stephenson (3-6, 4.17) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Suns LHP Justin Nicolino (7-2, 3.07).
by Tommy Thrall
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost to the Jacksonville Suns 3-4 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Tuesday. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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