Pensacola And Biloxi Battle Down To The Wire

June 19, 2016

In his five-year professional career with six different teams, Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Rookie Davis has never made it to the playoffs and played on a winning team once.

After the Mobile BayBears jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, it looked like his streak of bad luck might continue.

“Honestly, I knew what was at stake,” Davis said. “When I came to the dugout and looked my teammates in the eye, I thought everything they’ve done for me this year the least I could do for my team was give them the best chance to win. This is the best game I’ve had.”

Davis buckled down shutting out the Mobile BayBears over the last four innings, including the last 10 batters he faced and his teammates delivered a four-run second inning to help Pensacola to a 6-3 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

In the first game Saturday that was resumed from the night before because of rain, Pensacola won, 3-2, over Mobile in the eighth inning, thanks to a single by shortstop Zach Vincej. He smacked a line drive to right center that scored Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon from second base with the game-winning run.

With the two victories Saturday, Pensacola improved to 40-29 – the most victories by the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate in its five-year history. The Blue Wahoos play their final game of the first half Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Biloxi Shuckers, who are 38-29, play two games against the Jacksonville Suns on Sunday after the teams’ game on Saturday was rained out.

If Pensacola defeats Mobile Sunday, they will win the first half title. If Biloxi loses one game Sunday, Pensacola will capture the title, the second in its history.

Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly said he’s confident his team can get the job done. Pensacola leads Mobile, 3-2, in this six-game series.

“You always want to be able to claim the title yourself,” Kelly said. “If we go out and win the game, it’s ours. They’ve played hard all year. I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow.”

The start falls on the Blue Wahoos opening day starter, Nick Travieso, who is 3-3 with a 5.27 ERA on the season.

“He’s one of our best competitors,” Kelly said. “He’s the perfect guy in this position.”

Davis, who improved to 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA this season, also trusts Travieso in the final game of the year with title implications on the line.

“I know he’s ready,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t have anyone else going. He’s going to work his ass off to do everything he can to win the game.”

Davis got the most offensive support he’s had this season with the Blue Wahoos scoring six runs.

Leading the way was left fielder Tony Renda, who is now 36-88 or .409 and has 12 multi-hit contests in his last 21 games. He’s now batting .323 on the year, which is second in the Southern League.

Renda had the big hit to help Pensacola come from behind to take a 4-3 lead in the second inning. Renda came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and smacked a two-out double that bounced off the left field wall to score Blue Wahoos catcher Kyle Skipworth, shortstop Zach Vincej and third baseman Alex Blandino.

Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker scored the first run of the inning when Blandino got hit in the hand by a pitch.

The 24-year-old Renda was added to the Southern League All-Star team but declined, so that he could support his wife, Samantha, who is opening a home furnishing store in California. The couple has been dating for nine years and were married in December.

“She’s fired up,” Renda said. “She’s supported me throughout my entire baseball career.”

Mobile scored three runs in the first inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. BayBears right fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score center fielder Evan Marzilli, who walked to start the game. Then BayBears first baseman Kevin Cron clobbered a two-run homer over the left field wall that also brought in shortstop Ildemaro Vargas, who had singled.

In the first game Saturday that was resumed from the night before because of rain, Pensacola won, 3-2, over Mobile in the eighth inning thanks to a single by shortstop Zach Vincej. He laced a line drive to right center that scored Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon from second base with the game-winning run.

Raisel Iglesias started the sixth inning of the suspended game Saturday when the game picked up where it left off. He pitched one inning, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one. The Cincinnati Reds opening day starter pitched three rehab games for Pensacola in his recovery from a shoulder

impingement in his throwing arm. In those three games, he threw five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five.

“There’s a lot of fight in this team,” Renda said. “We’re never out of any ball game. We just have to go out and play our game.”

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Sports, TOP sports