Strahan Dazzles In 5-2 Wahoos Win

August 19, 2018

At a time when the Wahoos were playing at their worst, Wyatt Strahan (W, 7-10) took the hill on Saturday and gave the Wahoos his best. Strahan threw seven innings of one-hit ball as the Wahoos cruised to a 5-2 win in front of a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos honored members of both teams from the South’s first interracial Little League game, which took place in 1955. Quint Studer, Bubba Watson, and city officials were on hand to celebrate the bravery of the players involved. Former players were welcomed with their families on the field and proclamations were issued as part of the stirring pregame ceremony.

As for the game, the Wahoos were in dire need of a good start from Strahan with the team coming off three straight losses. The Southern California graduate set the tone early by retiring the Jumbo Shrimp in order to begin the game. It looked like Jacksonville was going to strike in the second inning after Brian Schales singled and John Silviano walked, but Strahan induced Sharif Othman into a foul pop out to end the inning. The single to Schales was the only hit Strahan surrendered, and he finished the game having retired the final 11 Shrimp that came to the plate.

Pensacola’s offense returned to form after scoring a total of four runs in the previous three games of the series. It began with a two-run rally in the fourth. After Siri led off with a ground-rule double, Nay singled off Cody Poteet to setup runners at the corners with nobody out. Narciso Crook hit into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Siri to score and give the Wahoos a 1-0 lead. Crook later scored on a base hit from Shed Long to give the Wahoos a 2-0 advantage.

The Wahoos struck for three more runs in the third. With Chris Okey at second, TJ Friedl and Siri hit back-to-back singles put the Wahoos up by three. Friedl would eventually score on a passed ball by Othman and Siri came home on a sac fly from Nay.

Carlos Navas replaced Strahan in the eighth and finished the game’s final two innings. Despite allowing a pair of runs in the ninth, Navas struck out four on his way to ending the Wahoos three-game losing streak.

Pensacola heads to Biloxi for a pivotal five-game series against the second-place Shuckers. LHP Seth Varner (8-2, 3.07) will start the opening game for the Wahoos while Biloxi has yet to disclose their starting pitcher.

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