Biloxi Snaps Pensacola’s Winning Streak

July 12, 2016

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had runners on second and third with two outs and already has a franchise record eight walk-offs this season.

“You almost expect it,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said. “Now we’re going to get a hit here and at least tie it up.”

But the Biloxi Shuckers hung on for a 3-1 victory Monday over Pensacola in front of 3,848 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Shortstop Zach Vincej started the bottom of the ninth inning with a single on a ground ball to left field. Joe Hudson hit a ball back up the middle that the shortstop dove and knocked down and Pensacola had runners on first and second with one out. But center fielder Jeff Gelalich hit a dribbler to first base forcing out Hudson at second.

Biloxi turned to newly acquired relief pitcher Tayler Scott who came in and went 3-2 count on Alex Blandino and struck him out to end the game.

Biloxi scored two runs in the seventh inning when second baseman Javier Betancourt doubled off of Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin on a grounder down the third base line into the left field corner that scored both catcher Jacob Nottingham and third baseman Gabriel Noriega to put the Shuckers ahead, 3-1.

Biloxi scored first when shortstop Angel Ortega smacked his first Double-A home run and second of the season in the fourth inning to put the Shuckers up, 1-0.

Pensacola tied the score, 1-1, in the fifth inning when left fielder Phillip Ervin drew a bases loaded walk that forced in Joe Hudson, who had doubled.

Blue Wahoos Jackson Stephens became the third starter in a row to last into the seventh inning, retiring eight in a row twice.

Stephens gave way to Astin after working 6.2 innings. Stephens struck out two and left runners on first and second base that Betancourt drove in. It was a hard luck loss for Stephens, who gave up five hits, no walks, three earned runs and struck out five in his outing. He fell to 6-7 on the season with a 3.44 ERA.

“Stephens has a nice four-pitch mix,” Kelly said. “He’s got a good feeling for pitching.”

Meanwhile, Biloxi pitcher Wei-Chung Wang threw six innings, allowing four hits, walking three, walking in one run and striking out four. In his last six starts, Wang is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA. On the season he is 3-4 with a 3.54 ERA.

The Blue Wahoos had chances to score more runs but were 0-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven runners on base.

Blandino doubled to start the game but then got caught trying to steal third. In the fifth inning, first baseman Ray Chang got thrown out at home. Again in the seventh, Pensacola had runners on second and third with two outs but Phillip Ervin was robbed of a hit by a Biloxi’s leaping catch by its shortstop Ortega.

Pensacola and Biloxi, who battled it out for the first half title before the Blue Wahoos won it, are evenly matched. In three series, Pensacola has a 7-6 edge and is up 2-1 this series.

The Blue Wahoos dropped to 8-10 in the second half and 49-39 on the season in the Southern League South Division. Meanwhile, the Shuckers improved to 6-12 and 45-42.

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