Wahoos Drop Game Three To Mississippi

September 10, 2016

The Braves scored four runs in the first two innings, including a controversial two-run, inside-the-park home run by right fielder Keith Curcio, and defeated Pensacola, 9-2, Friday at Trustmark Park. The victory put Mississippi up, 2-1, in the best-of-five series.

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are on the brink of elimination by the Mississippi Braves in the Southern League South Division playoffs.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was ejected for the second time this season when he stormed the field to argue about Curcio’s home run. Blue Wahoos right fielder Sebastian Elizalde raised his arms in the air signaling for a ground rule double when Curcio’s hit appeared to get lodged under the fence.

Kelly spiked his hat, took a big kick at the grass and gestured wildly at the right field fence to first base umpire Alex Zeigler, who threw Kelly out of the game.

The Braves got big contributions from two players that were recently called up from the High-A Carolina Mudcats. Curcio, playing in his second game, went 1-5 with the homer and two RBIs that put the Braves up 4-0 at the end of two innings.

Meanwhile, catcher Kade Scivicque, playing in his fourth game, went 4-4 with one run scored and one RBI. His single drove in first baseman Joey Meneses for a 6-2 Braves lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mississippi Mallex Smith also led the Braves 17-hit attack going 3-3 with a walk, double and triple and one RBI. Smith has now played in eight games for the Braves on a major league rehab assignment after breaking his left thumb.

After Pensacola loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the first and failed to score, Mississippi jumped out ahead, 2-0, in the bottom of the inning.

Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco, who is hitting .545 in three playoff games including a three-run homer Thursday, singled to right field to score center fielder Mallex Smith to take a 1-0 lead. Braves first baseman Joey Meneses singled to left field to drive in left fielder Dustin Peterson to put Mississippi up, 2-0.

In the third inning, Pensacola first baseman Ray Chang smacked a two out single to left field that scored center fielder Brandon Dixon bringing the Blue Wahoos within, 4-1, of the Braves.

Pensacola cut the lead in half to 4-2 when Zach Vincej tripled off the left field wall with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to score left fielder Phillip Ervin.

But that was as close as Pensacola would get to Mississippi in Friday’s game.

Pensacola starter Sal Romano, who threw great all second half going 5-4 with a 2.43 ERA, gave up five earned runs on nine hits and one walk, while striking out three in five innings.

Pensacola and Mississippi play the fourth game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Trustmark Park. If Game 5 is needed, it will be played at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

In the North Division playoffs, the Montgomery Biscuits won, 4-3, over the Jackson Generals and now trail in the series, 2-1.

Comments

Comments are closed.

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