Wahoos Beat Jacksonville 9-0

July 15, 2016

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos tied a franchise record by knocking five home runs in a 9-0 victory over the Jacksonville Suns at The Baseball Ground of Jacksonville.

The last time the Blue Wahoos hit five homers in a game was May 10, 2016. Then, as well as Thursday, Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin hit two of the five blasts out of the ballpark.

The Pensacola outburst came one day after the Blue Wahoos lineup was shutout by Biloxi Shuckers pitching, 1-0, and managed only four hits.

Despite the loss, Jacksonville remained in first place in the second half of the Southern League South Division at 11-10, while Pensacola moved into second at 10-11 — one game back of the Suns. Pensacola is 51-40 overall, while Jacksonville fell to 41-50.

Blue Wahoos third baseman Alex Blandino led off the homer avalanche by putting the Blue Wahoos on top, 1-0, in the third inning with a two-out solo homer to left field.

Blandino was followed with home runs by Taylor Sparks in the seventh, Phillip Ervin in the seventh, Eric Jagielo in the eighth and Ervin again in the ninth.

To go along with his two solo blasts, Ervin also doubled — his 16th of the season — to lead off the sixth inning. Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon then followed Ervin with a walk. Both moved up on a wild pitch to third and second base. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde smacked a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Ervin to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.

Pensacola went up, 3-0, when left fielder Juan Duran grounded out to shortstop driving in Dixon.

The Blue Wahoos put the game out of reach when they scored four more runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-0 lead. Sparks hit a pinch-hit, three-run blast over the left field wall that also brought in both Jagielo and catcher Chad Wallach for a 6-0 lead.

It was Sparks first homer since he hit two dingers and drove in four runs in his Double-A debut June 23. He now has three home runs and 11 RBIs on the season.

Pensacola then scored its last three runs of the game on solo homers. Ervin smacked his solo blasts in the seventh inning and leading off the ninth inning. Ervin now has nine homers and 29 RBIs this season.

The other solo shot was smacked by Jagielo over the right field wall in the eighth inning — his third homer in eight games. The Blue Wahoos first baseman has seven homers and 22 RBIs.

Jagielo hit .160 in April, .192 in May, .269 in June and .306 in July, so far to increase his average to a season-high .219.

Not to be out done, Pensacola starting pitcher Tyler Mahle threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out two. He improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.93. In his last start against Biloxi, he allowed one run in seven innings of work.

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