Wahoos Double Up On The Montgomery Biscuits

June 14, 2016

Pensacola catcher Kyle Skipworth wanted to make up for his throwing error that allowed Montgomery to get the first run of the game and, boy, did he.

Skipworth blasted the ball over the center field wall for a two-run, walk-off homer that gave the Blue Wahoos a, 4-2, victory over the Biscuits in front of 3,932 fans Monday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Pensacola’s four wins in its last five games have all come in the team’s last at bat.

It not only helped Pensacola clinch the five-game series, 3-1, over Montgomery with one game to go Tuesday but also helped them regain a one-game lead over Biloxi. The Shuckers lost, 9-2, Monday to the Birmingham Barons.

Pensacola, which is six-for-six in series wins at home, improved to 37-26. Meanwhile, Biloxi fell to 36-27.

Skipworth, who is coming off of surgery on his right ankle in December, has played seven games behind the plate for Pensacola and now has two homers and four RBIs.

“I don’t think there is any better feeling really,” said Skipworth of his walk-off bomb. “I hope by now you know how invested I am in what I do for the pitchers. I hate when (I give up a run) because it’s my fault. I needed to come through in a spot like that.”

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he admires the strength of the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Skipworth.

“He hit a ball over the scoreboard last year,” Kelly said. “He’s so strong when he hits those balls they go so long. You don’t see too many go out like that.”

Montgomery right fielder Cade Gotta put the Biscuits in front, 1-0, when he walked, moved to second on center fielder Braxton Lee’s single to left, stole third base on a double steal and scored on Skipworth’s misfire to second base.

Pensacola starting pitcher Rookie Davis made his third start since a groin injury sidelined him for three starts and worked five innings — his most since returning to the Blue Wahoos starting rotation.

Davis retired the last seven Montgomery batters he faced. Davis allowed two hits, walked four and struck out three, giving up one unearned run.

“He battled,” Kelly said. “We asked him if he was in discomfort or pain? He said, ‘I’m just in discomfort.’ He didn’t have his best stuff but he battled.”

Montgomery went ahead, 2-0, in the sixth inning when third baseman Patrick Leonard smashed a hit to center field, stole second and scored when catcher Mike Marjama followed with a single up the middle.

Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej extended his hitting streak to nine games when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double that bounced of the left field wall on one hop. However, he was stranded there. During his hitting streak, Vincej is batting 13-30 (.433), raising his average from .207 to .248.

Montgomery starter Jacob Faria had Pensacola batters under his spell for 6.2 innings, allowing no runs and just three hits, while striking out seven.

“There starter was really, really good today,” Skipworth said.

However, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Pensacola’s Skipworth singled to right center and then Blue Wahoos third baseman Alex Blandino launched a bomb over the left field wall to tie the game, 2-2.

Faria completed seven innings, giving up six hits, allowing two runs and striking out seven.

The Biscuits came right back to take a 3-2 lead when shortstop Willy Adames drew a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth and scored on a two-out single by Marjama. Marjama stole second and then tried to score on a slow chopper to third that Gotta beat out to first. But an alert Pensacola first baseman Kyle Parker threw home to get Marjama out at the plate by a mile.

In the ninth with one out, Brandon Dixon reached first when Montgomery’s Leonard couldn’t handle his sharp grounder and then Skipworth launched his game-winning dinger

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