Braves Win Pitchers’ Duel Over Blue Wahoos

May 30, 2015

Friday night’s contest in Mississippi ended with a score of 1-0 as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (21-27) lost a pitching battle to the Mississippi Braves (26-21).

Wahoos starter Robert Stephenson pitched 7.0 scoreless innings with ten strikeouts while allowing only three hits and one walk in what was undoubtedly his best performance of the season. He was unable to earn the victory due another great effort from his counterpart, Jake Brigham (4-2). Brigham went 8.0 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out five and walking no one.

Wahoos reliever Kevin Shackelford (0-3) earned the loss as he gave up the only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Braves reliever Tyler Jones earned his third save of the season, as he was able to get out of a jam in the top of the ninth.

The Blue Wahoos were led at the plate by shortstop Juan Perez, who went 3-3 with a triple to extend his hit streak to six games. Perez had three of the team’s five hits, with the others coming from Beau Amaral and Jesse Winker, both on singles in the ninth inning.

The first threat of a run came in the bottom of the fourth as Kevin Ahrens drew a two-out walk and Corban Joseph singled, reaching second on the throw. Stephenson, however, was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout of Rio Ruiz on a breaking pitch.

The Blue Wahoos posed a real threat to break the tie in the eight when Perez tripled with one out. Cam Maron was then called out on strikes, and pinch-hitter Ray Chang was robbed of an RBI when the third baseman Ruiz made a great stab on a hard-hit ball to end the frame.

Matt Lipka began the bottom of the eighth with an infield single and then moved to third on a single from Eric Garcia. Lipka would score on a fielder’s choice after contact from Mallex Smith to break the tie, as the throw from the infield was not in time.

Pensacola threatened to tie or potentially take the lead in the top half of the ninth as Beau Amaral led off the inning with a single to left field. After a Ryan Wright sacrifice bunt, Winker flared one into shallow left field to put runners at the corners with one out. Unfortunately for the Wahoos, a double play ended the game on the next at-bat.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports