Blankenhorn Caps Wild Wahoos Comeback Win With Ninth Inning Homer

May 27, 2019


In maybe their most memorable win this season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos pulled off their biggest comeback twice in a wild, stunning 11-10 road win Sunday against the Tennessee Smokies.

Trailing 4-0 early in the game, then 10-4 after six innings, the Blue Wahoos scored seven runs in the final three innings at Smokies Stadium to take the series finale off their five game road series in Tennessee.

While the Smokies took the series 3-2, the Blue Wahoos win Sunday provided a jolt of good vibe for a 500-plus mile trip back to Pensacola. It also kept the Blue Wahoos (30-20) two games ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers, who won Sunday, in the Southern League South Division standings.

After tying the game in the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk to Caleb Hamilton and RBI sacrifice fly by Ernie De La Trinidad, the Blue Wahoos scored the go-ahead run on Travis Blankenhorn’s leadoff home run in the ninth.

It was Blankenhorn’s eighth homer this season and he continued his torrid pace at the plate, going 4-for-6 with four RBI. Since he was promoted to Pensacola on April 26, Blankenhorn leads the Southern League in home runs, slugging (563) and total bases (67).

On the mound, facing a starting pitching shortage, the Blue Wahoos turned to Andro Cutura for his second spot start of the series. Two of Pensacola’s starters, Randy Dobnak and Sean Poppen, have been promoted to AAA over the past two days and two more (Brusdar Graterol and Griffin Jax) have recently gone on the injured list.

Cutura allowed four runs on seven hits, only pitching into the second inning. With two outs in the second, Pensacola turned to Jeff Ames, who stranded two inherited runners and threw 2.0 scoreless.

Cody Stashak and Ryan Mason, who have been strong in relief this season, struggled in succession after replacing Jeff Ames in the fourth inning, combining to allow six runs over 2.1 innings.

Tyler Jay followed with 1.1 scoreless, setting up Williams Ramirez to earn the win with 1.2 hitless innings of relief as the Blue Wahoos bats came alive late.

The Blue Wahoos turned the game’s direction in the seventh while trailing 10-4 when Ben Rortvedthit a two-run homer, then Blankenhorn followed with a two-out, two run, bases-loaded single to score Hamilton and Mark Contreras, who both walked, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 10-8.

In the eighth inning, Mitchell Kranson singled, then Jaylin Davis and Rortvedt were both hit by pitches to load the bases. With the bases jammed, Caleb Hamilton worked a walk to bring home a run and pull Pensacola within one. Ernie De La Trinidad then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 10-10.

Blankenhorn homered leading off the 10th to give Pensacola their first lead of the game at 11-10 and Ramirez retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to seal the win.

All-in-all, the two teams combined for 31 hits in the game. Pensacola allowed a season-high 19 while knocking 12 themselves.

Kranson finished 3-for-5, joining Blankenhorn as the other Blue Wahoos batter with multiple hits.

After an off-day on Monday, the Blue Wahoos will begin a 10-game homestand on Tuesday as they take on the Mississippi Braves.

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