Smith Strikes Out 10, Wahoos Beat Biscuits

July 10, 2015

Before returning to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Josh Smith earned a rare distinction — pitching at every level from Single-A to the major leagues in one season.

“It has been interesting,” Smith said after the game. “Before this year, I’ve never been moved up. This year, I’ve been traveling so much and playing at so many levels. It’s a crazy ride, a crazy journey.”

Smith looked every bit of a big league pitcher Thursday after getting sent down from the Cincinnati Reds to Double-A Pensacola.

Behind his 4.1 hitless innings to start the game and 10 strikeouts, Pensacola held on to capture the opener of the five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits, 3-2, in front of 4,502 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The Blue Wahoos are now in a five-way tie for first place in the Southern League South Division as each team is 7-7. It’s the first time since 2012 that they have been in first place this late in a half. They were last in first place July 22, 2012.

Smith’s no-hitter ended — undoubtedly — on a sharp double to right field by 19-year-old Jake Bauers. He ended up giving up three hits and one walk in eight innings of work.

He said it was great to get back on the mound and forget his last start with the Reds on the Fourth of July. Smith pitched 4.1 innings and left the game after hitting his fourth batter. He also struggled with his control walking 19 batters in 12.1 innings.

“That competitive nature kicks in after doing what I did in Cincinnati of the Fourth of July,” Smith said. “I know the fans weren’t happy. I wasn’t happy. But that’s in the past.”

When he came off the field in the eighth inning Thursday, Smith pumped both arms in the air to cheers by fans near the dugout.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly joked that it was “terrific” to get a starter from the Reds.

“He was excited,” Kelly said. “He wanted to pitch. There was no moping. He was ready to go. Nerves get you the first time you’re in the big leagues.”

The 27-year-old Smith made his major league debut with the Reds starting rotation June 25 and pitched in three games. He went 0-2 with 7.30 ERA, including eight strike outs in 12.1 innings. In his previous stint with Double-A Pensacola, he was 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 25 innings and struck out 24.

At the Triple-A Louisville Bats, Smith had eight starts and was 1-3 with a 3.56 ERA and struck out 35 in 48 innings. He also pitched one inning and struck out one batter on June 19 for the High-A Daytona Tortugas.

Combined at the four levels, Smith is now 5-7 with a 3.35 ERA and in 94.1 innings the right-hander has 80 total strikeouts.

The Blue Wahoos scored first, going ahead, 1-0, when right fielder Juan Duran blasted a triple off the center field wall to start the second inning and was driven in by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean.

They added two more in the third inning when Duran crushed a double to center that scored shortstop Zach Vincej to make the score, 2-0. Then Winker, who went 1-2, scored on a wild pitch by Montgomery’s starter Jake Faria to go up, 3-0.

However, Montgomery scored two runs on three hits in the ninth and had the tying run on third. But Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth threw out Leonardo Reginatto trying to steal second to end the game.

“It was a fantastic play and got us out of a big jam,” Kelly said.

Blue Wahoos reliever Zack Weiss pitched to one batter in the ninth to earn his team-leading eighth save. He now has 18 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched in his last 11 appearances.

The second game of the five-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Friday with the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits. RHP Barrett Astin (0-0, 3.09) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits RHP Jamie Schultz (5-4, 3.73).

Photo courtesy Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Smith Strikes Out 10, Wahoos Beat Biscuits”

  1. willis on July 10th, 2015 7:44 am

    Is the glass half full or half empty ?
    Maybe they’re in a 5 way tie for last place ?

    Either way they won and WA Hooooo.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports