Jacksonville Suns Edge Blue Wahoos 8-7

June 8, 2015

Marquez Smith put up prolific numbers for the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2014 with 30 home runs and 131 RBIs and a .311 batting average at High-A Bakersfield Blaze and Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

55 games into the 2015 season at Pensacola, Smith finally smashed his first dinger of the year. It was a three-run blast to left field that put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-1, over in-state rival Jacksonville Suns after six innings.

However, the Pensacola bullpen fell apart giving up four runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth to the Jacksonville Suns, which pulled out an 8-7 victory in front of 4,440 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he enjoyed watching Smith trot around the bases again.

“It was nice for him to get this off his back,” Kelly said. “He had been pressing. Now, he can relax. He’s a good hitter. He can drive in runs. I know I’d like him to do it more often.”

In his last 17 games since May 14, the 30-year-old Smith has his .296. In the first 29 games he previously played, Smith hit .203.

At that point in the game, Kelly said he was confident about turning the game over to relievers Carlos Gonzalez, Kevin Shackelford and Kyle McMyne—the Southern League BC Relief Pitcher of the Month for May. Together, they combined to give up seven runs on seven hits and two walks.

“When you turn it over to the bullpen with a three-run lead, you don’t expect them to give up seven runs,” Kelly said. “You expect them to shut them down. It was shocking.”

Pensacola still made it interesting by adding runs by Ray Chang and Smith before falling, 8-7. Chang led Pensacola’s offensive attack going 3-3 with three singles and two walks and scored three times. The 31-year-old veteran minor leaguer, who is hitting .320 on the season, has a five game hitting streak going 7-18 to bat .389 over that span with five runs and three RBIs.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports