M-Braves Take Two, Wahoos Drop Third Straight
July 9, 2021
The Mississippi Braves (35-22) used two separate penultimate-inning rallies to win both games against Pensacola (33-24) on Thursday at Trustmark Park.
The first game was the resumption of Wednesday’s suspended game, that began 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. There was no offense until the bottom of the eighth inning when the M-Braves cashed in on a pair of leadoff walks. After a sac bunt from Wendell Rijo, Braden Shewmake lined a base hit into center off Dylan Bice (L, 1-3) to put the M-Braves up 3-2.
Will Latcham (W, 2-1)—who pitched in the eighth—worked a scoreless ninth inning to give the M-Braves an early win to start the evening. Even though eight of Pensacola’s nine starters had a base hit, the Wahoos ultimately left nine men on base in the one-run loss. Pensacola is now 15-8 in one-run games this season.
In the second game of the night, Jeff Lindgren (L, 2-5) took the mound for the Wahoos and pitched well through the first five innings of the game. It was a back-and-forth affair between the two sides as the Wahoos led for most of the night. Riley Mahan laced a two-out, two-run double in the top of the first inning to put Pensacola ahead 2-0.
The seesaw battle soon continued. Mississippi scored once in the second to cut Pensacola’s lead down to 2-1. Both teams scored once in the third and the Wahoos tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2.
Things began to unravel in the fifth. With Lindgren still on the mound, Shea Langeliers hit a home run that initially looked just foul, despite being ruled a homer by the third base umpire. The manager of the Wahoos, Kevin Randel, and several of the players questioned the umpire and despite a umpire’s conference between all three officials, the call stood. One pitch later, pitching coach Tim Norton was ejected, clearly still baffled by the ruling of a fair ball.
After the ejection, Lindgren elevated his game, striking out the next two batters and taking the Wahoos to the top of sixth with a 4-3 lead.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, the M-Braves scored six times to stun the Wahoos and ultimately put the game out of reach. After a soft come-backer for the first out, the next six M-Braves all reached base safely. Lindgren allowed a walk and single before a wild pitch set up the M-Braves with two runners in scoring position. Lindgren then allowed a two-run base hit to Justin Dean to put Mississippi up 5-4.
Jose Mesa Jr replaced Lindgren and allowed back-to-back walked before striking out Wendell Rijo (who had homered earlier in the game against Lindgren). With two outs, Jefrey Ramos tripled to bring home two more and put the M-Braves up 9-4. Pensacola scored once in the top of the seventh but ultimately fell 9-5.
The Wahoos now sit two games out of first place and are in jeopardy of losing their third series of the year. LHP Will Stewart (3-4, 4.53) will take the mound for the Blue Wahoos and he will be opposed by RHP AJ Puckett (1-4, 3.15).
Wahoos And M-Braves Game Suspended Wednesday Due To Rain
July 8, 2021
Wednesday afternoon’s contest between the Blue Wahoos and the M-Braves was suspended due to rain and unplayable field conditions at Trustmark Park. The game was tied at 2-2 headed to the bottom of the fifth once the game was suspended.
In the top of the fifth inning and the Wahoos trailing 2-1, Pensacola initiated a rally that saw the visitors tie the game before the stoppage. With one out in the inning, Pensacola rattled off three consecutive singles before Blue Wahoo debutant Justin Twine lifted a sac fly to left field, which scored JJ Bleday. M-Brave starter Hayden Deal then dispatched J.D. Osborne before the heavens opened and play was halted.
Mississippi’s grounds crew and front office did all they could; but despite their best efforts, they were unable to pull the tarp over home plate and the dirt near first base. Once it became clear that the tarp was too heavy to move, it was obvious that baseball was done for the day.
Jake Eder—in his final start prior to the Futures Game in Denver—pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two runs, including a solo homer to Braden Shewmake. In total he allowed four hits and struck out four without walking a batter.
The plan entering tomorrow is to resume the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday beginning at 5:30. Once that game is concluded, the teams will play a seven-inning contest shortly after.
M-Braves Take Series Opener, Tied With Wahoos For First Place
July 7, 2021
The M-Braves surged past the Wahoos late in Tuesday’s series opener and defeated the Wahoos 8-1 at Trustmark Park.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Mississippi scored twice off Tyler Stevens courtesy of back-to-back homers from Jalen Miller and Greyson Jenista to put the M-Braves up 5-1. Any hopes for a comeback bid were erased after the hosts scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of three walks and two hits allowed by the Pensacola bullpen.
Edward Cabrera’s fourth start with the Wahoos got off to a slow start as each of the first three hitters for Mississippi rattled off base hits. Justin Dean and Trey Harris each singled before an RBI single from Drew Lugbauer put the M-Braves up 1-0.
After that Cabrera looked like his usual self, striking out Atlanta’s top catching prospect Shea Langeliers before inducing a double-play ground ball from Braden Shewmake.
Pensacola tied the game in the top of the third thanks to back-to-back hits of their own. Riley Mahan floated a single into right field before Jhon Nunez poked a double into the right-field corner that scored Mahan from first.
Unfortunately for Pensacola, the offense would end there as Pensacola was held to a total of five hits while the club struck out 17 times. Mississippi retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after a leadoff walk to Lugbauer and consecutive singles from Langeliers and Shewmake.
With the loss the Wahoos and M-Braves are now 32-22 and have the best records in the Double-A South. The series continues tomorrow afternoon as LHP Jake Eder (3-2, 1.03) is expected to make the start for the Wahoos. He will be opposed by LHP Hayden Deal (1-2, 3.83).
Wahoos Walk-Off In Extras In Series Finale Against Biloxi
July 5, 2021
Riley Mahan broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 10th inning with a bases-loaded walk to give the Wahoos a thrilling 5-4 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium on the Fourth of July.
In the top of the 10th inning, the Shuckers capitalized on the extra-innings rule by scoring Luis Castro on a RBI single from Jesus Lujano. The Shucker left fielder finished the day 4-for-5, which was the third 4-hit game of his career.
Despite taking the lead, Andrew McInvale (W, 1-0) showed resiliency on the mound by retiring the next two batters without surrendering a run.
In the bottom of the 10th with Bleday on second, the Wahoos loaded the bases thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a walk. With the winning run at second and nobody out, Victor Victor Mesa hit a sac fly to right center that scored Bleday and moved Jerar Encarnacion to third. The Shuckers then intentionally walked Chris Chinea to reload the bases before Nick Lovullo hit into a fielder’s choice in which Biloxi shortstop Brice Turang got the force out at the plate.
With one out and the bases still loaded, Riley Mahan—who came off the bench in the bottom of the ninth—worked the count full against Robbie Hitt (L, 0-1) before drawing a game-winning walk.
For the Shuckers, the loss was their fifth in six days, and a disappointing way for the comeback bid to fall short.
After failing to score against Biloxi’s opener, Pensacola came out swinging against intended starter, Nick Bennett. In his first inning of work, the Wahoos scored three times. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and only one out, JJ Bleday laced a double to the warning track in center to bring home two runs. Nick Fortes followed with an RBI single to put the Wahoos ahead 3-0.
The Shuckers had no answer for Pensacola said starter Max Meyer, who pitched five shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out four. It was the second time Meyer has pitched against Biloxi this week and the fourth time this season. In his four combined outings, Meyer is 1-0 and has pitched 19.1 shutout innings against the Brewers Double-A affiliate. The next time Meyer takes the mound, he will be in Denver, pitching for the National League in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Biloxi’s offense came to life once Meyer departed. Luis Castro led off with a double off Zack Leban before Alexander Palma launched his fourth homer of the season to cut Pensacola’s lead down to 3-2. The Shuckers then tied the game in the seventh after Turang walked, stole second, and scored on the RBI single from Palma.
For a moment it appeared the Wahoos were poised to walk it off in regulation, as they had the winning run on second base with two outs in the bottom go the ninth. Bleday hit a line drive to center that was run down by Ryan Aguilar to send the game in extras.
Pensacola now has six walk-off wins this season, and are an impressive 15-7 in one-run games.
The Wahoos next face the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, MS beginning on Tuesday, July 6. As it stands, the M-Braves are one back of the Wahoos for the best record in the Double-A South. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-0, 1.17) is expected to start the opener for Pensacola. He will be opposed by RHP Spencer Strider (0-1, 5.40).
Burdick’s Blast, Stewart’s Six Shutout Innings Lead Pensacola Past Biloxi
July 4, 2021
Will Stewart turned in a quality start and Peyton Burdick hit a go-ahead home run late as the Wahoos came from behind to win 6-3 against the Biloxi Shuckers Saturday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Trailing 3-1, the Wahoos exploded in the seventh inning, scoring four times and sending all nine batters to the plate. Braden Webb (L, 2-4) was brought into the seventh for Biloxi, but only retired one batter before being lifted from the game. For Pensacola, Devin Hairston started the inning with a ground ball that snuck under the glove of third baseman Gabriel Garcia for a leadoff double. After a foul fly out, Victor Victor Mesa walked to set up runners at first and second with only one out.
That brought Burdick to the plate, who earlier this season hit a go-ahead grand slam off Webb in Biloxi to give the Wahoos an improbable win on May 28th at MGM Park. Like that night, Burdick fell behind 0-2 before turning around a fastball over the centerfield wall for a go-ahead three-run home run to give Pensacola a 5-3 lead and send a sold-out Blue Wahoos Stadium crowd into a frenzy. The home run was Burdick’s 13th of the season, tying him with Birmingham’s Micker Adolfo for the most home runs in the Double-A South.
Pensacola added an insurance run in the eighth when Devin Hairston belted his third homer of the season off Cody Beckman. For Hairston, all three of his homers have now come against his former team.
The late game drama was set up by Will Stewarts brilliant outing. Stewart allowed two hits across six shutout innings while striking out five. For the southpaw, it was his third quality start of the season, and his first since June 4.
Earlier, the Wahoos took the lead in the fourth inning by capitalizing on some sloppy play from the Shuckers. After Galli Cribbs Jr. was hit by a pitch, he advanced to second on a groundout to third. Later in the inning, he stole third base before ultimately scoring on a wild pitch from Shucker starter Noah Zavolas.
Zavolas finished his night with a quality start of his own, tossing six innings and allowing just one run while striking out eight.
Stewart’s chances of a win evaporated in the seventh, when Brent Diaz hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Shuckers a 3-1 lead.
After the Wahoos retook the lead, Dylan Bice pitched the final two innings in scoreless fashion to give the right-hander his first career Double-A save.
The series concludes on Sunday with Marlins #3 prospect Max Meyer (4-1, 1.84) making his second start of the series. On Tuesday, Meyer picked up his fourth win of the season after six shutout innings against Biloxi. Just like on Tuesday, Meyer will be opposed by LHP Nick Bennett (1-4, 5.46).
Chinea, Bleday Power Blue Wahoos To Win
July 3, 2021
The ball rocketed off his bat and for a brief moment Blue Wahoos catcher Chris Chinea thought of a rare career moment for any player.
He had already homered, doubled and singled Friday night in his first three plate appearances before a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Amid a tie game in the eighth inning, as he factored into the Blue Wahoos’ winning rally for a 7-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers, Chinea sent a line drive into right field.
Could it be? Hitting the cycle for the win?
“Definitely enters the mind,” said Chinea, smiling afterward. “But I don’t have many triples in my career. I’m not the fastest guy.
“The ball has to hit off the wall in a funky way. But it definitely enters the mind when I hit it. I’m like. ‘Oh man get down the line, I’m going to shoot three (bases) no matter what.’ But it got the job done.”
For sure.
His one-out liner allowed Riley Mahan to tag up and move to third. The Blue Wahoos had runners on the corners when shortstop Galli Cribbs, laced a run-scoring single that turned into two runs when the ball was misplayed by the Shuckers rightfielder.
Peyton Burdick followed with a two-out, RBI single for a three-run lead.
Relief ace Colton Hock retired the three batters he faced in the ninth to record his 12th save. He now leads all minor league relievers for the most saves.
Just like that, the Blue Wahoos (31-21) had another late-inning win. This one followed a 52-minute rain delay to start the game.
It also happened one night after four Biloxi pitchers combined on a one-hitter in a 3-0 win to snap a nine-game losing streak. On Friday, the Blue Wahoos collected 12 hits.
It’s why Chinea reminded afterward that keeping the right perspective in baseball is so essential.
“It’s one of the days where it’s a good day and you gotta flush it (out of mind) at midnight, but I’m happy it happened,” Chinea said. “Now move on to the next page which is (Saturday).”
With the Blue Wahoos up 3-1 in the homestand, the series continues Saturday (6:05 p.m.) with a special Fourth of July weekend fireworks show to follow.
Once the game began Friday, the Blue Wahoos erased Biloxi’s 1-0 lead on Chinea’s two-run homer in the second inning.
“I was looking for a pitch to drive, kinda stay right-center with it and he threw me a fastball up-and-in and it was kinda reaction,” Chinea said. “All that (batting) cage work and (batting practice) stuff (to help) and you just got to let it happen in the games.”
From that point, Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren stayed sharp. He allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning, but worked into the seventh inning and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Josh Roberson followed in relief and Hock closed out the ninth.
“Give credit to Jeff (Lindgren),” said Chinea. “Jeff ckept us in the game and pitched his butt off.
Blue Wahoos outfielder J.J. Bleday had his first multi-hit game since June 17, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in fifth inning. Burdick also went 2-for-5. Eight of the nine batters in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Biloxi Beats The Blue Wahoos 3-0
July 2, 2021
Two trends went in a wrong direction Thursday night in the Blue Wahoos 3-0 loss against the Biloxi Shuckers.
The comeback offense, the late-inning thrills the Blue Wahoos have produced so often at home, were absent as four Biloxi pitchers combined on a 1-hitter to quiet the crowd of 4,002 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
And the Shuckers, mired in a nine-game losing streak, won for the first time since June 18 when they pounded the Rocket City Trash Pandas 13-1. It was their first shutout win since May 15.
The loss fell on a night when Blue Wahoos starter Jake Eder became the leader in lowest earned run average through all levels of Minor League Baseball, following his five shutout innings.
“I was just told that,” he said after the game. “Yeah, that’s cool. But it doesn’t really matter to me right now. The only thing that is important to me is the next start.
Eder’s ERA fell to 1.03, but it also happened through a high-wire act he pulled off.
The game began with Biloxi’s first two batters reaching on walks, then Eder recording a pair of strikeouts to end that threat. In the second inning, the Shuckers loaded the bases with a leadoff walk, a single and Eder hitting the third batter.
But he got a nifty double-play on a hard-hit ball to Blue Wahoos’ third baseman Demetrius Sims, who stepped on the bag, then threw to the plate to get the second out. Eder than got the next batter to pop out.
After inducing another double-play in the third inning, he retired the final seven batters he faced. He threw 74 pitches, but only 44 for strikes, which led to the bullpen being summoned after the fifth inning.
“I definitely was not in rhythm early, but I think after the third, my slider started landing for a strike and that got me back in rhythm and I started going from there,” said Eder, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft out of Vanderbilt where he primarily was used as a reliever.
The Blue Wahoos only hit occurred on first baseman J.D. Osborne’s leadoff single in the third inning. The only time the Blue Wahoos had multiple base runners was in the ninth.
Trailing 3-0, J.J. Bleday and Jerar Encarnacion followed a double-play by reaching on walks. Nick Fortes got a pitch he liked and sent it to right field, but not quite deep enough for dramatics and the game ended with a putout.
The Shuckers gained insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run homer from Lucas Erceg. Prior to that, the game’s only run was scored in the sixth inning. when Blue Wahoos center fielder Victor Victor Mesa misplayed a fly ball, falling down and leading to a run-scoring play.
The teams will continue their six-game series Friday.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Every Wahoos Starter Knocks A Hit In Wahoos Win Over Biloxi
July 1, 2021
A capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium was standing, clapping in anticipation.
Zack Leban took a quick pause, gassed up a 97-mph fastball, then pounded his glove amid the cheers.
With all the festivities Wednesday – specialty uniforms, dogs on parade, the debut of Watson the service dog, even a police dog demonstration – Leban’s closing effort in relief completed the Blue Wahoos winning night in a 4-3 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers.
Oh yeah, plus there were post-game fireworks lighting up the sky, too.
The combination fan entertainment and the Blue Wahoos continued knack for winning one-run games created another special experience.
Their win in the season’s 50th game put the Blue Wahoos (30-20) back into a first-place tie in the Double-A South with the Mississippi Braves. The Wahoos, who collected 12 hits, are now 14-6 in one-run games, which is why they’ve climbed 10 games above .500.
Every Blue Wahoos batter in the lineup had at least one hitter – the first time that has occurred this season.
The Shuckers (15-34), meanwhile, dropped their ninth straight game.
And all of this happened Wednesday despite the Blue Wahoos touted pitcher Edward Cabrera struggling at times through his five-inning start.
But even without his A-game, Cabrera picked up his first win as a Blue Wahoos pitcher. The 23-year-righthander gave up three runs – only one of which was earned, striking out three and walking three. The Miami Marlins’ No. 4 overall rated prospect allowed just two earned runs in his three starts.
In this game, however, Cabrera, never seemed comfortable. He had one clean inning in the fourth, and got out of a two-on situation in the fifth inning by striking out Biloxi’s No. 3 hitter Louis Castro.
Biloxi took a 2-0 lead after a second-inning home run by Tristen Lutz, then a third inning single by Bruce Turang.
The Blue Wahoos erased that lead with a three-run rally in the fourth inning on four consecutive hits.
Jerar Encarnacion started the production with his leadoff double. Run-scoring singles from Demetrius Sims, Riley Mahan and Galli Cribbs Jr. put the Blue Wahoos ahead.
After Biloxi tied the game in the fifth, designated hitter Nick Fortes had the game’s biggest hit with his two-out single in the bottom of that inning to score Peyton Burdick, who reached on an error.
From that point, the Blue Wahoos bullpen shined again. Alberto Guerrero (2 innings), Dylan Bice (1 inning) and Leban combined to allow just two hits, no walks in scoreless relief.
Leban gave up a two-out single in the ninth, but stuck out Gabriel Garcia on a 2-2 fastball to end the game.
by Bill Vilona, Pensacola Blue Wahoos senior writer
Blue Wahoos Get Series Opening Victory Over Biloxi
June 30, 2021
Along with command of his arsenal of pitches, the Blue Wahoos’ Max Meyer has shown another important quality in his rookie professional season.
He’s twice followed a rough outing with a brilliant one.
Meyer matched his season-high length, working six shutout innings and getting enough run support for the the Blue Wahoos to hold off the Biloxi Shuckers in the ninth inning for a 5-3 win Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Credit his brother’s weekend wedding, too. It followed Meyer’s disappointment in allowing four runs a week ago at Birmingham, leading to the Barons’ comeback win that night.
“I took a couple days off from throwing and I feel like I was just getting loose back out there again,” said Meyer, smiling, afterward, as he continued his progression as one of the Miami Marlins’ top prospects.
“As the game went on, I felt I got a little sharper,” Meyer said. “I think my (velocity) went up a little bit and knocked all that rust of off.”
In two starts against Birmingham, Meyer has giving up a combined nine runs and 13 hits. Against everyone else in the league, he’s given up one run. That’s one run in seven games.
“Being able to bounce back after giving up runs that I obviously hate to do…. just kinda dial it in more and be a little more focused,” said Meyer, explaining his approach. “Birmingham has got me twice now and the next start I usually lock it in a little bit better. I guess it is fun to do.”
It was fun to watch among a crowd of 4,409 as the quick-working Meyer breezed through six innings, allowing four hits, just one walk with six strikeouts. He twice gave up leadoff singles in the third and fifth and responded with quality pitches.
The win began a six-game, Fourth of July week homestand for the Blue Wahoos (29-20) in a festive way. The Shuckers (15-33) have now lost eight straight games.
The Blue Wahoos are sending another heralded prospect, Edward Cabrera, on the mound Wednesday for the first of four post-game fireworks nights, followed by Jake Eder on Thursday. It’s a trio that is among the top of minor league baseball with earned run averages and overall performance.
“It’s really fun to watch these guys (Cabrera, Eder),” said Meyer, the No. 3 overall selection by the Marlins a year ago out of the University of Minnesota.
“Us three kinda rolling out back to back to back,” he said. “We kind a feed off each other and we all have pretty good stuff so you are able to see how to throw to the teams we are facing. And really, good guys, too.”
As they’ve done all season, the Blue Wahoos’ offense made the most of each hit. Five hits, five runs.
Demetrius Sims started with a solo home run in the second into the right field berm. In the fifth, after Peyton Burdick and J.J. Bleday walked, Jerar Encarnacion just missed a three-run homer to straightaway center.
But catcher Nick Fortes hit a one-out single to score both runners.
In the ninth inning, Burdick followed a bases-loaded, none out situation by delivering a two-run double to continue his Double-A South lead in RBI.
Blue Wahoos closer Colton Hock gained his 11th save by making one big pitch – striking out Alexander Palms with the bases loaded in the eighth on a perfect curveball.
But Hock then struggled in the ninth, giving up a single, double, another batter reaching on an error, then a two-run double before ending the game on two flyouts.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Stewart Struggles, Blue Wahoos Thumped In Series Finale Against Barons
June 28, 2021
The Blue Wahoos road trip in Birmingham ended with a thud, after a 10-3 loss Sunday against the Barons in the series finale at Regions Field.
Just as they did in Pensacola in mid-May, the Barons won four of the six games. Birmingham is the only team in the Double-A South to have series’ wins against the Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos (28-20) returned home Sunday night and will regroup for a big holiday week homestand that begins Tuesday against the Biloxi Shuckers at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Will Stewart, making his second start in the series, had his roughest outing of the season. He was rocked for seven runs on four hits in 2.2 innings and walked six batters among the 19 hitters he faced.
It was stark contrast to his stellar performance Tuesday night in the series opener, where he worked into the sixth inning and gave up just two runs, one walk, to pick up the win in Pensacola’s eventual 4-3 victory.
Birmingham (27-20) jumped on Stewart with four runs in the first inning, after Stewart walked the bases loaded. Carlos Perez followed with a two-run single. First baseman J.D. Osborne committed a throwing error after a ground out, allowing another run to score and Jameson Fisher’s one-out single produced the fourth run.
The Barons’ Micker Aldofo then did damage in the second and third innings. He hit a two-out, RBI double in the second. He followed in the third inning with a grand slam off reliever Tyler Mitzel to give Birmingham a 9-2 lead.
The Blue Wahoos had cut the deficit in the top of the third with Jhon Nunez’ two-run homer, following a leadoff single by Nick Lovullo.
The Blue Wahoos got their other run in the seventh on Lovullo’s single. He had two of the Blue Wahoos’ four hits in the game and raised his average to .319.