Wahoos Win Over TN

May 9, 2015

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their first back-to-back games of the season with a, 3-0, victory over the Tennessee Smokies in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The winning run was actually knocked in by starting pitcher Josh Smith—an .086 hitter in his sixth year in the minor leagues. It was his first Double-A RBI when he singled in center fielder Beau Amaral from third in the third inning. Amaral tripled, singled, stole a base and scored two runs in the game.

Smith threw five scoreless innings, retiring the first 11 batters before allowing a sharp single up the middle to Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher. Smith allowed two hits and struck out five to earn the victory and improve to 3-1 on the season with a 2.16 ERA.

“When I was here before I didn’t do much extra work in the cage,” Smith said. “But in the big leagues, I noticed the guys would go hit 3, 4, 5 times a week. I don’t want to come out in the fourth, fifth or sixth innings. I want to be able to help the team any way I can.”

Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said the Blue Wahoos fans deserved to see an entertaining baseball game Friday night.

“That’s a great crowd that comes and supports us every night,” Kelly said. “It was nice to give them a good game to watch. We want them to keep coming back.”

First baseman Ray Chang had one single in his three plate appearances and scored the other run for the Blue Wahoos. The hit extended his hitting streak to six games. He’s hitting .500 (8-16) and scored four runs total in those games.

Chang credited hitting coach Alex Pelaez and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin for helping tweak his swing this week, giving him more power. He tripled off the glove of Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher’s glove but the three-bagger was ruled an error, instead of a hit.

Larkin is in Pensacola in his new role as the Reds roving minor league infield instructor.

“I’ve been working real hard with Al and Barry on my swing,” Chang said. “To be honest with you we had a team meeting before (Thursday’s) game and he was not bashing on us, just making comments on what he saw. He talked about his approach to the game and what he sees in our styles.”

Kelly said he would like to keep Larkin around to continue helping the Blue Wahoos, who entered Friday’s game with the Smokies batting a Southern League worst .224 batting average.

“He’s been outstanding working with the hitters and doing stuff with the infielders,” Kelly said. “He’s had a great impact on the players. I wish we could keep him all year.”

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports