Wahoos Falll To Biloxi In 15 Innings

April 30, 2017

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos loaded the bases in the 11th and 12th innings and had two runners in scoring position in the 14th inning but failed to get the winning run across the plate to break a 3-3 tie Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Biloxi Shuckers loaded the bases in the top of the 15th inning and scored twice to pull off a, 5-3, victory in 5 hours and 11 minutes in front of the Blue Wahoos sixth sellout of 5,038 this season. Biloxi has won the first three games to clinch the five-game series against Pensacola.

The 15-inning game tied the Pensacola franchise record for the longest extra inning game at home in team history. It was also the longest game of the season, surpassing the 4 hour, 46 minute 17-inning loss to Mobile last week.

Biloxi scored its winning runs when reliever Domingo Tapia loaded the bases on three walks. The big righty then gave up a two-out walk to Biloxi catcher Dustin Houle, which scored center fielder Michael Reed and gave the Shuckers a 4-3 lead. Pitcher Bubba Derby then slapped a line drive single to left field to drive in right fielder Clint Coulter to go ahead, 5-3.

Up until the 15th inning, Pensacola’s relief corps retired 15 of 16 Biloxi hitters, only giving up a bunt single to Shuckers pinch hitter Johnny Davis in the 11th inning.

Not only did Derby, knock in a run to help his cause he worked the last five innings and struck out five of the last six batters he faced. Derby picked up his first win (1-0) and has a 1.59 ERA.

But the Biloxi reliever looked shaky at first. He worked out of bases loaded jams in the 11th and 12th innings and prevented Pensacola from scoring a run in the 14th with men on second and third.

In the 12th inning, Pensacola loaded the bases with left fielder Leon Landry smashing a one-out triple to the right center gap but didn’t score. And in the 11th inning with one out and the bases loaded Derby got first baseman Eric Jagielo to strike out and third baseman Taylor Sparks to pop out to short left field.

Pensacola second baseman Josh VanMeter hit a double into the right center gap with two outs that drove in both Sparks and shortstop Blake Trahan for a 3-2 Pensacola lead in the fifth inning. Van Meter also lined a two-out single to right field in the third inning that scored catcher Joe Hudson from third base to tie the game, 1-1.

VanMeter was 3-3 at bat with two outs and 2-2 Saturday with runners in scoring position and two outs. On the season, the 25-year-old is hitting 7-14 or .500 in that situation and has driven in nine of his 12 RBIs. It’s by far the best average with the team collectively hitting .200 with RISP and two outs.

However, Biloxi came back in the top of the sixth inning to knot the game, 3-3. Shuckers pinch hitter Art Charles launched a deep fly ball to center field that easily scored Biloxi left fielder Victor Roache from third base.

With the scored tied, 3-3, with two outs and a Biloxi runner on second base, Kelly called for righty Ariel Hernandez. Hernandez’s last outing was Monday when he made his Major League debut for the Cincinnati Reds where he pitched two scoreless innings and struck out five. He joined two other Reds’ relievers who struck out five in their big league debuts from the bullpen.

His combination of a fastball that touches 100 mph and a curveball considered the best among Reds’ farmhands pitched two innings of scoreless relief allowing one hit, two walks and struck out two.

Biloxi scored first, going up 1-0, when catcher Dustin Houle singled to left field in the third inning and then scored when first baseman Dustin DeMuth walked with the bases loaded. A bank of lights right of home plate went out during Biloxi’s at bat in the inning and delayed the game 15 minutes.

Pensacola starter Keury Mella worked five innings, allowed five hits, gave up two runs, one earned, walked three and struck out three. He had pitched seven scoreless innings in his last outing against Mobile. In his first start against Biloxi, the righty lasted just 1.2 innings giving up five runs on six hits.

The Blue Wahoos have now lost six of its last seven games and three in a row to the Shuckers but remain in first place in the Southern League South Division with a 14-9 record.

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