Wahoos Losing Streak Increases To Five Games

April 23, 2016

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos losing streak increased to five games after the Jackson Generals eked out the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning to win, 1-0, Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Jackson scored without getting a hit. In the top of the ninth inning, Jackson DH Leon Landry smacked a line drive to left field but it was deep enough to score center fielder Guillermo Heredia from third and put the Generals ahead, 1-0.

Heredia led off with a walk and then was bunted to second by second baseman Tim Lopes. He reached third base on a wild pitch by reliever Kyle McMyne, who was making his seventh relief appearance.

One good spot remains the Pensacola starting pitching. Daniel Wright, making his second spot start of the season, pitched six scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out six. He’s now pitched 11 scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out 12.

On the year Wright, who was a starter last year for Pensacola before moving to long reliever, is 2-0 and he dropped his ERA to 0.59.

Kelly said he believes Wright has better command of his pitches this season.

“He was pretty good last year but I think he’s gotten a little better,” Kelly said. “He has command of both sides of the plate. He had a good outing in Biloxi and then throws six strong innings to give us a chance.”

Pensacola, which hit .167 in its last series against the Biloxi Shuckers, had a season-high five doubles and seven hits total. But it was 0-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base. It was the second game in a row that Pensacola was shutout, 1-0.

The Blue Wahoos left two runners, centerfielder Beau Amaral and first baseman Donald Lutz on base, after they doubled to lead off the third and seventh innings, respectively.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “You want to score runs but we haven’t done it the last couple of nights.”

The Generals remained atop the Southern League North Division at 11-4 and are riding a five game winning streak, matching its longest win streak from last season.

Meanwhile, Pensacola dropped its fifth straight game and is now 9-7 on the year and in second place in the Southern League South Division.

“There’s no reason to panic,” Kelly said. “It’s a long year. Every club goes through these things.”

Both Amaral and right fielder Sebastian Elizalde extended their hitting streaks to seven games. Amaral doubled in the third inning, while Elizalde singled in the fourth. Amaral is now 7-22 or .318 with a home run and four RBIs.

The Blue Wahoos still are getting clutch defense. Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson, rated the best defensive catcher by Baseball America in the Cincinnati Reds organization, threw out Jackson second baseman Tim Lopes trying to steal, making him a perfect 6-6 on the season. In the third inning, despite Hudson’s perfect strike, Generals left fielder Ian Miller stole his fifth base of the season.

Jackson tested Hudson again in the sixth inning and Heredia was nailed trying to steal, putting Hudson at 7-8 on runners trying to steal this season.

Comments

Comments are closed.

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