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Biscuits Take Second Straight Over Pensacola
August 24, 2014
After spending the past two seasons pitching for the Low-A Dayton Dragons, Joel Bender finally got the call to start for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The 23-year-old prospect from Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati and a lifelong Reds fan made the most of it.
Bender gave the Wahoos four strong innings, but the Montgomery Biscuits rallied to win a second straight gave over Pensacola, 8-6, Saturday in front of a sellout 5,038 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Bender left early with a blister on the tip of the middle finger of his throwing hand. He worked four innings allowing two runs on three hits and struck out three.
“It was very frustrating,” Bender said. “I wanted to compete and stay in the game but it was a close game. I’ve been waiting a long time to do this.”
He might have gotten out ot the game allowing no runs but a high fly ball by Montgomery’s Taylor Motter was misplayed by Wahoos centerfield Brodie Greene. He lost track of the ball, twisted around and fell behind him near the warning track for a double.
Pensacola Manager Delino DeShields said Bender showed good command of his fastball, curveball and change up.
“His command was impressive,” DeShields said. “He wasn’t overwhelmed a bit. He was confident and executed his pitches.”
Bender, who was drafted in the 27th round by Cincinnati in 2010, arrived in Pensacola Saturday morning to help the Wahoos who were desperate for a starter when its winningest pitcher Daniel Corcino, who had 10 wins, was tabbed Thursday night for the first time to play for the parent club Cincinnati Reds.
At Dayton, the left-handed Bender compiled a 6-3 record and two saves in 43 appearances that included one start. Bender has come on late this season. He’s only allowed three runs in 17.2 innings over his last eight appearances. His longest outing was his last when he pitched 5 innings, allowed one run on three hits, and struck out a season-high nine batters.
Bender had played with a lot of the Wahoos staff in Dayton and spring training, including Robert Stephenson and Michael Lorenzen.
“Words can’t tell you how good it feels to get this opportunity,” Bender said. “It’s an honor to be in the rotation with them.”
Designated hitter Kyle Waldrop kept Pensacola in the game early knocking in Yorman Rodriguez in the first and third innings on a single and double, and knocking in Devin Lohman on a single in the fifth inning that tied the score at 3.
However, the Biscuits sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the ninth and had four singles and a double to add four runs to go ahead, 8-3.
The third game of the five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway two hours later than normal at 6 p.m. Sunday. RHP Ben Lively (2-6, 3.63) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits RHP Albert Suarez (3-4, 3.57).
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