BayBears, Wahoos Split Doubleheader

June 20, 2015

Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Robert Stephenson and Mobile BayBears pitcher Braden Shipley had the makings of a Southern League baseball pitching duel.

Stephenson is No. 23 on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list. Shipley No. 26.

Stephenson is the Cincinnati Reds top prospect. Shipley is the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 2 prospect.

Stephenson, a flame thrower with a 100-mph arm, was drafted 27th in the first round in 2011 by the Reds. Shipley, the best changeup and curveball in Arizona’s system, was drafted 15th in the first round in 2013 by the Diamondbacks.

And that’s exactly what Pensacola fans got in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader that the Blue Wahoos won, 4-2, on Seth Mejias-Brean’s walk-off, three-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the 14th sellout this season and 117th since the inaugural 2012 season in Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Mejias-Brean’s walk-off made up for the first game when his error in the top of the ninth allowed Mobile to score two runs and pull out a, 3-2, victory to beat Pensacola in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader.

“(The walk-off) was really satisfying especially after that first loss,” Mejias-Brean said. “I was down on myself a lot. To be honest, I was just trying to get it into the air and give us a chance to tie the game and go into extra innings.”

Arguably the Southern League’s two best pitchers traded outs for seven innings in the second game.

It was the second straight game Stephenson gave up a pair of home runs. This time solo shots to both left fielder Zach Borenstein and second baseman Brandon Drury, who are both on the league’s All-Star team on Tuesday, June 23.

On the night, Stephenson, whose record improved to 4-6 on the year, threw seven innings, gave up three hits, walked one and struck out 10. He has struck out 10 twice and a career-high 11 once this season. He currently leads the Southern League with 86 strikeouts.

Stephenson last won June 4 against Mobile when he tossed a one-hitter over eight innings and struck out seven. He had lost his last two starts since that game.

“Overall, Robert did a tremendous job,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “Robert’s getting better and that’s what it’s all about. He’s playing better and doing a great job.”

Meanwhile, Shipley was pulled in the seventh after matching Stephenson pitch for pitch. He allowed a leadoff double that Pensacola second baseman Juan Perez hit into the right field corner. He threw no-hit ball for 3.1 innings before left fielder Sean Buckley got a bunt single. In six innings, Shipley gave up three hits and two runs, while walking two and striking out three.

Of course, Shipley has lost his last two starts since his last win on June 3 against Pensacola when he threw six scoreless innings, gave up just four hits and struck out five.

In his return this season from back-to-back Tommy John surgeries, Blaine Howell gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a career-high four innings.

One of Howell’s two hits allowed was a solo home run in the seventh to Mobile BayBears Rudy Flores, his seventh of the year, which tied the game, 1-1. Howell, a former Pensacola Junior College pitcher, also struck out one batter.

Pensacola catcher Cam Maron came through with a single to left field in the eighth inning to score shortstop Juan Perez from second and put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 2-1. Maron extended his hitting streak to seven games, going 8-23 or .348.

In the ninth inning, though, Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez had two out and the bases empty. Both left fielder Borenstein and Gabriel Guerrero earned back-to-back walks. Pinch hitter Gerson Montilla, who hit for Flores, slapped a hard grounder down the third base line that skipped off Pensacola Mejias-Brean’s back hand into the Mobile bullpen and both Borenstein and Guerrero scored for the BayBears win.

The first game was resumed Friday after nearly a one hour delay Thursday as the team tried to repair the stadium lights behind home plate. Pensacola led the game, 1-0, when Perez singled to right field and took second when the first baseman missed the throw. He took third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out to shortstop by centerfielder Beau Amaral

Pensacola is now 7-20 or a .259 winning percentage in one-run games, which is the worst record in the Southern League. The Blue Wahoos also have the worst overall record in the league at 25-41.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports