Wahoos Remain In First With Two Games Remaining

September 6, 2015

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in an exciting finish down to the wire for the second half South Division crown in the Southern League, and they have the added excitement with Billy Hamilton playing for them as he recovers from his right shoulder injury.

Pensacola lost Saturday night, 6-3, to the Mobile BayBears leaving two games left to play, but the sellout crowd of 5,038 got to watch in awe as Hamilton scored in the fifth inning from first base on a single, showing off his cheetah-like speed.

Hamilton beat the throw home even though he hesitated between second and third. Hamilton had reached first with a two-out single on a line drive to right field.

Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly, who coached Hamilton in the Rookie League, said the center fielder is fun to watch.

“Scoring from first on a single is not too shabby either,” Kelly said. “Once he saw the play would be close, he out ran the ball to home, which you supposedly can’t do. He just adds to the excitement. Billy is extremely fun to watch.”

Hamilton, the Rookie of the Year finalist from the Cincinnati Reds last year, said he felt very welcome by the fans, many who watched him set the minor league record of 155 stolen bases in 2012 for Pensacola. He currently leads the National League with 54 before going on the DL on Aug. 19.

“There are great owners and great people who work here,” Hamilton said. “They made me feel good.”

Hamilton, who was 1-3 with a run scored and a walk, said he would do what he could to help Pensacola clinch the division, which they currently lead by a half game over the Mississippi Braves and one game over Mobile.

“I can tell they really want to win it,” Hamilton said. “It’s fun to play with guys like that. I told them just because I’m a big leaguer, don’t treat me that way. I told them, I’m one of you guys.”

Pensacola shortstop Alex Blandino’s single to the right-center field gap in the fifth inning pulled Pensacola within, 6-2, on Hamilton’s safe slide home.

The Blue Wahoos added another run the seventh inning to come within, 6-3, when Blandino hit a ground rule double that knocked in shortstop Zach Vincej.

However, Mobile scored three times in the first inning with the BayBears second baseman Garrett Weber doubling in the right field corner to score shortstop Jack Reinheimer, who had walked. Mobile first baseman Rudy Flores then doubled in Weber. Finally, BayBears third baseman Sean Jamieson singled up the middle that Pensacola second baseman Zach Vincej stopped. He had Flores hung up between third and home but through the ball in the dirt to Blue Wahoos third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean and Flores scored to put Mobile up, 3-0.

Mobile led by as much as, 6-1, when Jamieson knocked in two more runs in the fifth inning on a double to the left center gap.

Pensacola, which secured its first winning record in a half since its first season in 2012, is now 37-31, while Mississippi fell to 36-31 with its loss Saturday. Mobile, which is trying to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year, improved to 35-31.

The North Division playoffs are already set with Twins Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts facing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits.

Pensacola is looking to make its first postseason appearance since its inaugural season in 2012 and end the longest drought of missing the playoffs by a Southern League Major League affiliate. The Cincinnati Reds last Double-A team to make the playoffs was Chattanooga in 2006.

The second half winner plays the Shuckers, which won the first half despite playing its first 54 games on the road, while Biloxi finished its new MGM Park by June 6.”

Kelly acknowledged that Pensacola has gone, 2-5, but still remains in first place. He thanked the last-place Jacksonville Suns for playing Mississippi tough.

“They’ve helped us out,” Kelly said. “We’re all competitors. Even last place teams need something to play for.”

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