Wahoos Fall To Jacksonville

July 19, 2016

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos pulled within one run, 3-2, in the sixth inning but that was as close as they could come to the Jacksonville Suns on Monday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville starting pitcher Jake Esch and relievers Tyler Bremer and Sean Donatello combined to shutout Pensacola over the last three innings, allowing one hit and retiring the last seven Blue Wahoos hitters in row.

Esch improved to 10-6 with a 3.72 ERA, becoming the first pitcher to reach 10 wins in the Southern League. In 6.2 innings of work he allowed seven hits, one walk and two earned runs, while striking out seven.

Despite Monday’s loss, Pensacola won the series, 3-2, but are still below .500 on the road at 23-26. They are 12-13 in the second half, one game back of Jacksonville, which improved to 13-12 to take first place in the Southern League South Division.

Jacksonville scored first when first baseman Chris Curley hit a two-run homer off of Pensacola starter Nick Travieso in the bottom of the second inning to give the Suns a 2-0 lead.

Travieso took the loss and is 4-6 with a 4.16 ERA this season.

In the top of the third inning, Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde singled to the opposite field on a ground ball to left field drive in shortstop Alex Blandino, who doubled, pulling the Blue Wahoos within, 2-1.

Suns left fielder Austin Dean put Jacksonville up by two runs again, 3-1, on a single on a fly ball to left field that scored pitcher Jake Esch, who led off the fifth inning with a single back up the middle.

Pensacola’s Elizalde doubled to start the sixth inning and crossed home plate on a ground out by third baseman Taylor Sparks to third base to bring the Blue Wahoos, within, 3-2. But that is as close as they would get.

Pensacola was 1-6 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.

Leading the Blue Wahoos at the plate were Elizalde, who was 3-4 with a double, run scored and RBI, and Blandino, who was 2-4 with a double and a run scored.

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