Varner Pitches Wahoos To Series Opening Win

June 9, 2018

Seth Varner pitched six strong innings for the Blue Wahoos in the 6-1 win over the Mississippi Braves Friday night at Trustmark Park. It is the season-best third straight win for the Blue Wahoos.

Varner (W, 3-0) surrendered a leadoff home run to Connor Lien in the bottom of the first inning and that was his only blemish in the start. He finished with just five hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts.

The Blue Wahoos pounded out 12 hits with everybody in the lineup reaching base with a hit or a walk. Pensacola got the first five runs against M-Brave starter Kyle Wright (L, 3-7), and the scoring started in the third.

Shed Long doubled home Chris Okey to tie the game at 1-1. A batter later, Nick Longhi drove a deep sacrifice fly to the center fielder Lien which scored the go-ahead run, Varner, from third. Narciso Crook tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning to stretch the Pensacola lead to 3-1.

The Wahoos had Wright on the ropes when the first five batters of the fifth inning reached. C.J. McElroy led the rally off with a single followed by base hits from Long, Longhi and Brian O’Grady before Luis Gonzalez walked. Longhi’s single scored McElroy, and O’Grady’s brought home Long to make it a 5-1. Gonzalez drove Long in for his second run of the game with a single in the ninth to cap the scoring at 6-1.

Longhi and Long both paced the Wahoos hot bats. Longhi finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Long finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Robinson Leyer did a fine job in relief of Varner with two scoreless innings before Jesus Reyes finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Blue Wahoos look for their fourth straight win on Saturday night in Mississippi. Pensacola will start RHP Daniel Wright (2-3, 4.50) against Braves RHP Touki Toussaint (2-6, 3.52). First pitch is set for 6:00 c.t. from Trustmark Park.

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