Wahoos Erupt For Four Runs To Beat Jacksonville

April 15, 2016

Barrett Astin, Wandy Peralta and Alejandro Chacin combined to pitch four scoreless innings, allow one hit and strikeout five as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Jacksonville Suns, 4-1, Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Blue Wahoos are off to their best start in team history at 6-2, surpassing the 2012 team that started 5-3.

Chacin earned his second save of the season in four games and now has four strikeouts in four innings pitched. The relievers came in and got out the first 10 batters they faced after Sal Romano pitched five strong innings. He got six of his seven strikeouts in the first three innings, while allowing three hits and one earned run in the first inning.

Romano, the Cincinnati Reds No. 9 prospect according to Baseball America, also showed some defensive skills, reaching out to nab a hard hit grounder and getting the speedy Suns lead-off hitter Yefri Perez out at first.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he had questions about his bullpen coming into the year but has called Chacin “fearless.”

“It’s been nice to have great pitching,” Kelly said. “We have a lot of flexibility and some good arms. They’ve been doing really good.”

The Blue Wahoos now lead the Suns, 2-1, in the five game home stand. In 2015, Pensacola didn’t win its first series until May. But this year, they’re going for their second straight series win to start the season.

Pensacola trailed, 1-0, until it erupted in the sixth inning, scoring four runs and sending nine hitters to the plate.

Jacksonville took the lead in the first inning when Suns shortstop J.T. Riddle singled on a soft liner to right field. Suns left fielder Austin Dean then smashed a high fly ball over the head of left fielder Pin-Chieh Chen, which scored Riddle easily.

However, first baseman Donald Lutz led off the sixth with a walk and scored Pensacola’s first run when the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases and catcher Joe Hudson then earned a walk to tie the game, 1-1. Then Chen, who had a bunt single, scored on pinch hitter Ray Chang’s blooper to centerfield that put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-1.

But the biggest hit in the sixth inning when Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej slapped a two-out single that dropped in front of the center fielder and scored both right fielder Sebastian Elizalde and catcher Joe Hudson. The runs gave Pensacola some breathing room, 4-1.

Vincej said he was just looking for a good pitch to hit.

“The previous at bat, I popped up with guys on base,” said Vincej, who’s hitting .290 this season. “I was just trying to put some barrel on it.”

Four of the first five innings, Pensacola’s first batter reached base. But the runners remained stranded. The best chance to score came in the fourth inning when Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin walked to lead off the inning and Lutz followed by smashing a single over the head of the shortstop. But Lutz rounded first base and was tagged out in a rundown.

Jacksonville right-hander Austin Brice, the Marlins No. 14 prospect, ended up pitching five innings allowing two hits, walking four and striking out two. In his two starts this season, Brice has pitched 11 scoreless innings.

“What I saw was a pretty good pitcher,” Kelly said. “Brice threw extremely well. On a cold night, he pitched us inside.”

But it has been Pensacola’s bullpen that has consistently impressed Vincej.

“They have come in and shut the door,” Vincej said. “It makes it a lot easier on the defense. We can go out and play relaxed.”

Comments

2 Responses to “Wahoos Erupt For Four Runs To Beat Jacksonville”

  1. Well on April 15th, 2016 4:17 pm

    Off to a good start.
    Keep it up.

  2. dman on April 15th, 2016 9:15 am

    Good game last night, guys! Keep it up!

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