Wahoos Win Sixth Consecutive Series

July 8, 2018

No amount of rain could cool down Vladimir Gutierrez (W, 6-8) on Saturday night. After a two-hour rain delay, Gutierrez took a no-hit bid in the sixth inning and held the Biscuits to one-run over seven innings as Pensacola won the series finale at Riverwalk Stadium by a 3-2 final.

It was another fabulous outing for Pensacola’s starter. He retired the first eight batters of the game before Jake Cronenworth walked with two outs in the third inning. That didn’t phase Gutierrez as retired the next batter to end the inning. The right-hander cruised through the fourth and the fifth without allowing a hit before Cronenworth wrecked the no-no bid with a one-out single. The shutout bid evaporated soon after when Tommy Milone singled, Gutierrez threw a wild pitch, and Peter Maris hit an RBI groundout to make it 3-1. However, that was all the Biscuits could muster against Gutierrez, who finished his night allowing three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Offensively, the Wahoos jumped ahead early thanks to Mitch Nay’s solo home run in the first inning for a quick 1-0 lead. Pensacola doubled their advantage in the fifth after Luis Gonzalez singled, advanced to third on Chris Okey’s double, and scored on T.J. Friedl’s groundout to the second baseman Nick Solak.

The Wahoos third and final run came in the seventh after Gonzalez reached with his second hit of the night. The shortstop then stole second base and eventually came home on two wild pitches from Biscuits starter Sam McWilliams (L, 3-5).

Jesus Reyes (S, 2) replaced Gutierrez in the eighth and had to work early trouble. With one out and a runner at first, Milone hit what appeared to be a double-play ball, but Nay—in his first start at second base for the Wahoos—threw errantly to Gonzalez and the ball rolled into left field. That put Biscuits at second and third, and after a sac fly from Peter Maris to make it 3-2, Solak fouled out to Okey to end the threat.

The ninth inning was far less dramatic, with Reyes working around a two-out single from Nathan Lukes to earn his second save of the season. The Wahoos have now 12 of their last 14 games and six consecutive series, which is one shy of the franchise record set by last season’s team.

Pensacola returns home for another edition of the Battle of the Bay. The Wahoos and BayBears will play a quick four-game series with the teams having split the first 10 meetings this season. RHP Tony Santillan will make his Double-A debut tomorrow for the Wahoos and will be opposed by RHP Jason Alexander (0-1, 2.70). Santillan is the #4 prospect in the Reds organization according to MLB.com, and prior to his promotion was 6-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts. He was third in the Florida State League in both ERA and innings pitched (86.2).

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