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Shuckers Beat The Wahoos
May 1, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos manager Pat Kelly shook up his lineup Sunday to try to squeeze more hits and runs out of it.
It seemed like it would work with Pensacola ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers, 3-2, heading into the ninth inning in front of 4,301 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
But Blue Wahoos’ save leader Jimmy Herget blew his second chance to close out the game this season giving up a two-run double to Biloxi right fielder Clint Coulter to give the Shuckers their fourth straight win over Pensacola, 4-3.
Pensacola has now lost seven of its last eight games but still leads the South Division in the Southern League with a 14-10 record.
“We got nine hits and took the lead into the ninth,” Kelly said about his changed batting order. “We had a couple opportunities where we could have added on. “
Kelly put second baseman Josh VanMeter in the leadoff spot followed by right fielder Aristides Aquino. Shortstop Blake Trahan moved down in the order from first to sixth and third baseman Taylor Sparks batted cleanup.
The Blue Wahoos did score two runs in the first three innings to go ahead, 2-0.
In the first inning, VanMeter lead off with a double and came around to score on a double by Gabriel Guerrero whose hit landed just inside the left field foul line. VanMeter scored a second time in the third inning when he earned a leadoff walk. With the bases loaded and two outs Biloxi reliever Forrest Snow walked Trahan to force in VanMeter.
For the game, VanMeter was 2-4 with a double, walk and two runs scored and is now 8-18 or .444 in this series against Biloxi. In the two series against the Shuckers, he is 12-34 or .352.
“He’s a good hitter,” Kelly said. “In spring training, we liked the way he swung the bat. He keeps going up there and swinging the bat well.”
Biloxi rallied in the sixth inning to tie the game, 2-2, when Shuckers left fielder Dustin DeMuth doubled in third baseman Blake Allemand. Biloxi first baseman Art Charles then pulled a single to right field to score DeMuth with the tying run.
Biloxi had runners on second and third with one out in the third inning but Pensacola starter Deck McGuire, a former first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed. He ended up retiring the next eight batters in a row, striking out five.
McGuire ended up pitching six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out seven. He is 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA this season.
“He battled out there,” Kelly said. “His command was off a little bit but was aggressive and stayed after guys. He kind of ran out of gas there.”
Pensacola left fielder Angelo Gumbs had knocked in catcher Adrian Nieto in the seventh inning with the go ahead run, 3-2, when he drilled a grounder into left field.
But Biloxi came back with two runs in the ninth off Herget, who picked up his first loss and is 0-1 with eight saves. He did have two strikeouts and now has 23 in 13 innings or 15.9 Ks per nine innings.
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