Wahoos Fall By 5-1 Score For Second Straight Night
May 26, 2019
Travis Blankenhorn led off the game with a home run, but it was the only offense Pensacola would muster as their struggles against Tennessee continued on Saturday night.
The Smokies jumped on Pensacola starter Melvi Acosta, who made his Double-A debut, for eight hits and five runs early in Saturday’s game en route to a 5-1 victory before a crowd of 6,202 at Smokies Stadium.
The win clinched the series for Tennessee (25-23) and became the Blue Wahoos (29-20) sixth loss in the past nine games and their second series loss of the season.
In his first appearance with Pensacola, Acosta got through the first two innings without problem before Vimael Machin hit a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Smokies the lead. The Smokies scored three more runs in the fifth inning after three consecutive hits and a fielding error.
For Pensacola, Alex Kirilloff went 2-for-4, his third multii-hit effort in his last four games, and Ernie De La Trinidad went 2-for-3.
Beyond Blankenhorn’s home run, it was another frustrating game for the team at the plate. The Blue Wahoos had the leadoff batter on base in the fifth through the eighth innings, either by a base hit or an error. Each time, they couldn’t use the opportunity to build a rally.
The Blue Wahoos and Smokies will close out the holiday series on Sunday. After the game, the Blue Wahoos will travel back to Pensacola.
All Southern League teams have Memorial Day Monday off. The Blue Wahoos will then begin a 10-game, two team homestand, beginning on Tuesday against the Mississippi Braves.
Four-Run Sixth Inning Downs Pensacola Against Tennessee
May 25, 2019
A night after setting a career high for hits, the Blue Wahoos managed just five in a 5-1 loss to Tennessee on Friday evening.
After scoring the game’s first run in the third inning, the Blue Wahoos (29-19) missed opportunities with leadoff baserunners in the middle innings, then had their last nine batters retired in order to end the game.
The win pushed Tennessee (24-23) back above .500 and gave the Smokies a 2-1 series edge heading into Saturday night’s fourth game.
Pensacola scored their only run in the third. Travis Blankenhorn singled, then stole second. Alex Kirilloff followed with an RBI single.
The Smokies tied the game with a run in the fourth against Pensacola’s Jorge Alcala, who entered in the third inning after Sam Clayworked two scoreless innings in an opener role.
The sixth inning changed the game. After giving up a leadoff walk and single, Alcala committed a throwing error on a fielder’s choice play that loaded the bases. He then gave up consecutive singles that scored three runs. After intentionally loading the bases again, a one-out sacrifice fly scored the fourth run of the inning.
Alcala (5-2) absorbed the loss, his first since April 26 when he allowed six runs against Jacksonville in a three-inning outing that was his shortest this season.
The Blue Wahoos missed a chance to get back into the game when the first two batters in the sixth inning reached on walks. But Mitchell Kranson was picked off first base, then reliever P.J. Higgins got a pair of ground outs to end the inning.
In the seventh, Ben Rortvedt led off with a walk, but Higgins retired the next three batters. The Blue Wahoos were retired in order in the eighth and ninth.
Northview’s Venable Signs With Enterprise State
May 24, 2019
Northview High School’s Nicholas Venable has signed to play at Enterprise State Community College.
He accepted a full baseball scholarship and will utilized as an infielder. At Northview, Venable led the state in 1A baseball in steals with 31. His batting average was .550, with 10 doubles and three triples. His only strikeout of his senior year was his final at bat against Bozeman in the state tournament.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Set Season High In Hits In 10-5 Victory
May 24, 2019
Much like Wednesday night, the Blue Wahoos fell behind early on Thursday evening in Tennessee against the Smokies.
But this time, they hit back in the biggest way.
Every Blue Wahoos batter had at least one hit as Pensacola produced a season-high 15 hits in a 10-5 win at Smokies Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos (29-18) put up a trio of crooked innings, erasing an early 3-0 deficit by scoring four times in the second, twice in the fifth, and three times in the sixth. Four Wahoos had multiple hits, led by Travis Blankenhorn (3-5, 3 RBI, 3 R) and Jaylin Davis (3-4, HR, 2 R).
On the mound, Blue Wahoos starter Sean Poppen had his shortest outing of the season, exiting after giving up three runs on five singles in the first inning.
Williams Ramirez replaced him in the second and worked the next three innings, allowing just one hit to earn his first win in his second game with the Wahoos.
After falling behind 3-0, the offense immediately responded, scoring four runs in the second to take the lead. Taylor Grzelakowski led off with a walk. Caleb Hamilton singled. Mark Contreras followed with an RBI double. With two out, Travis Blankenhorn smashed a two-run double. Alex Kirilloff followed with a single to score Blankenhorn.
After the Blue Wahoos answered with those four runs in the second, the game stayed that way until the fifth inning.
In that frame, the Blue Wahoos padded their lead with two out. With Blankenhorn on second base after a leadoff single, Davis walked. Grzelakowski followed with a two run-double down the right field line to score both runners.
After the Smokies added a run in their half of the fifth, the Blue Wahoos answered with three more runs in the sixth inning. Jordon Gore’s one-out double scored Joe Cronin, who had hit a one out single. Blankenhorn then singled home Gore. Blankenhorn moved to second on Kirilloff’s walk, then scored on Mitchell Kranson’s single.
Relievers Ryan Mason and Cody Stashak continued their superb finishes by keeping the Smokies scoreless in the final three innings. The pair allowed just one hit.
With the series tied at 1-1, the Wahoos and Smokies will continue their five-game series tomorrow evening in Tennessee at 6:00 PM. Jorge Alcala (5-1, 4.09), the #18 prospect in the Twins system, is scheduled to start for Pensacola against Cubs #8 prospect Justin Steele (0-4, 9.33 ERA)
Wahoos Fall To The Smokies 9-3
May 23, 2019
The Blue Wahoos started their longest road trip Wednesday in a tough way.
Their league-best pitching took a hit, after the Tennessee Smokies jumped to a big league and cruised to a 9-3 victory against the Blue Wahoos in the series opener at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn.
Five relievers followed Blue Wahoos starter Andro Cutera, who faced only 11 batters and gave up six hits and three runs. In the fourth inning, Adam Bray was unable to get an out in the seven batters he faced as the Smokies extended a 3-1 lead into 8-1.
It was the second-most runs allowed by the Blue Wahoos this season. The Blue Wahoos (28-18) entered Wednesday with a 2.61 earned run average, the lowest among all 30 Double-A teams, and watched it jump 15 points tonight.
The Smokies (23-22), the Chicago Cubs affiliate, counter in this series with the Southern League’s best team batting average (.247) and they padded their league-best hit total Wednesday with 12 hits, all singles.
But with the Mobile BayBears beating Biloxi, the Blue Wahoos did not lose ground Wednesday atop the standings with a four game lead.
It was Cutura’s first start for the Blue Wahoos since April 19. He has been on the injured list since making his last appearance in a relief role on April 25.
The game followed the first off day for both teams in 20 days. The Blue Wahoos left at mid-day Tuesday for the 525 mile trip to Kodak, located just outside of Knoxville.
Tennessee shortstop Vimael Machin went 4-for-5 in the game and drove in three runs. First baseman Jared Young also had three RBI.
The Blue Wahoos briefly tied the game in the top of the second when Caleb Hamilton led off with a double, moved to third on Ben Rortvedt’s single and scored on Ernie De La Trinidad’s sacrifice fly.
But in the bottom of the second, after Cutura retired the first two batters, he gave up two singles, along with a wild pitch that led to the first run. He was lifted after the next two batters reached on a walk and single.
The Blue Wahoos got two runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Mitchell Kranson and Rortvedt, who went 3-for-4 in the game. Hamilton and Alex Kirilloff each had two hits.
The teams will play the second game of this series Thursday.
Northview’s Aubree Love Inks To Play Softball With Coastal Alabama
May 22, 2019
Northview High School’s Aubree Love committed Tuesday to play softball at Coastal Alabama Community College. Love, who graduated on Saturday, will be attending Coastal on an academic scholarship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Take Series Finale 4-2 Over Mobile
May 21, 2019
Two days ago, the Blue Wahoos were at their lowest point of the season, having dropped three straight games and lost their first series of 2019.
By the end of tonight’s game, they had their swagger back, having taken their series finale against Mobile by a 4-2 score, giving them back-to-back wins to salvage the series before a long road trip to Tennessee.
Powered by Joe Cronin and Ernie De La Trinidad, the No. 7 and No. 8 hitters in the batting order, along with four innings of flawless relief pitching, the Blue Wahoos were winners again on Monday night.
“Yeah, like back to normal,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego with a wide smile after the game. “Our routine…winning and winning. That feels good.”
A crowd of 4,285, which pushed the team’s season attendance after 20 home games to just under 90,000, saw a return of the style of play that led the Blue Wahoos (28-17) to their franchise-best start and Southern League South Division lead.
Mixing timely hits with solid pitching, Pensacola took an early lead in what proved to be a back-and-forth affair, then regained it in the sixth inning before their reliable bullpen took over to seal the win.
Coupled with the Biloxi Shuckers’ loss Monday, the Blue Wahoos extended their division lead to four games heading into their longest road trip geographically of the season, which begins Wednesday against the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs affiliate, who play just outside of Knoxville, Tenn. in Kodak.
“I know it was first series we lost all year,” said De La Trinidad, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. “But we were able to bounce back these last two games and be able to feel good. It’s big to go on the road with some momentum.”
Like so many wins this season, the Blue Wahoos jumped to a lead in the first two innings. Travis Blankenhorn led off the first by drawing a walk, then later scored on Mitchell Kranson’s two-out single.
Mobile’s Erick Salcedo knocked a solo home run in the top of the second to tie the score, but De La Trinidad answered with a homer of his own in the home half of the inning to put the Wahoos back on top by a run.
After Mobile tied the game in the fourth on Brandon Saeger’s homer, the Blue Wahoos regained the lead in the sixth inning.
In the sixth, after Caleb Hamilton and Ben Rortvedt drew back-to-back walks with two outs, Cronin and De La Trinidad delivered clutch RBI singles for the 4-2 lead. The two hitters in lower half of the order finished with four hits and three RBI.
“One through nine can definitely hit in this lineup,” said De La Trinidad. “Not every day that everybody is going to be on. But the guys ahead picked us up in the past, and the bottom half was able to do so tonight. Team game right there, just picking up your teammates.”
On the mound, starter Randy Dobnak provided a solid start for Pensacola, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.0 innings while striking out seven.
From that point, the bullpen dominated. Tyler Jay threw 1.1 scoreless. Williams Ramirez, in his first appearance of the season after being activated from the injured list yesterday, recorded three strikeouts while yielding no hits to the five batters he faced.
Cody Stashak then followed with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to record his fourth save.
“The pitchers did a great job. We finally were able to add runs late in the game,” Borrego said. “Basically, offensively, we have struggled to execute. To see Ernie and Cronny get those hits, that’s exciting. I hope we can continue to swing the bat like that.”
Record Setting Wahoos Series Win Streak Ends With 3-0 Loss To Mobile
May 19, 2019
The season staple of early-inning leads and clutch hitting for decisive runs has suddenly ended right now with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
It led to another trend-breaking experience Saturday night, after the Mobile BayBears again silenced the Blue Wahoos bats in a 3-0 victory, amid a sellout crowd of 5,038, for their third straight win in this weekend series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“A tough night offensively,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. “It’s been tough last three days. That’s the problem right now.”
And for the first time all season, the Blue Wahoos (26-17) have lost a series, following eight consecutive series wins. Pensacola was the first team in Southern League history to win the first eight series of the season since the league switched to a five-game series format. They will try and salvage wins in the final two games, beginning Sunday with ace starter Brusdar Graterol on the mound.
It hasn’t been pitching that currently ails the Blue Wahoos. Three pitchers combined Saturday to record 15 strikeouts against Mobile.
But the Blue Wahoos batters managed only two hits Saturday and got only one base runner to second base. This followed a four-hit game Friday in an 8-2 loss.
“We could not put anything together,” Borrego said. “We are trying to find a way right now. Guys need to adjust a little bit.”
The game featured one of the more spectacular settings for a Saturday sellout. Crystal blue sky and a brilliant sunset gave way to a full moon rising above Pensacola Bay.
The crowd pushed the Blue Wahoos season attendance to just under 80,000 for 18 home home games and their season average is the third-best behind much larger cities Birmingham and Jacksonville in the Southern League.
Saturday’s crowd, which included PGA Tour star and team co-owner Bubba Watson and his family, was treated to the antics of the Fur Circus from Atlanta, an emotional moment with a Home Run For Life Event, and then the always-popular post-game fireworks.
The fan experience the Blue Wahoos always seek to enhance was on full display.
Borrego is hoping his team can quickly return to the steady performance that pushed the Blue Wahoos to a fast start.
“We have to do damage early. We haven’t been able to do it,” Borrego said. “We’ve hit a lot of ground balls these past two games. We’ve got to get balls to the gaps.”
Travis Blankenhorn had one of the Blue Wahoos two hits and also reached base on a walk. Mitchell Kranson had the other.
The lack of offense spoiled strong pitching. Adam Bray, who was acquired in a trade to the Minnesota Twins organization last year, was tried as a spot starter for two innings. He gave up a run on back-to-back doubles but avoided more damage by striking out the next two batters.
Jorge Alcala followed with five solid innings, highlighted by nine strikeouts. Jeff Ames finished with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. A walk, a passed ball and a wild pitch led to a pair of BayBear runs in the sixth.
“We’ve had great pitching,” Borrego said. “We just need to get our offense back.”
Northview Takes On Escambia County In Spring Football (With Gallery)
May 18, 2019
The Northview Chiefs traveled north to take on the Escambia County Blue Devils in Atmore Friday night.
In the first three quarters, the Escambia County varsity team topped Northview 21-12 in the spring game. In the final quarter, the Northview JV beat the ECHS junior varsity 14-0.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Looking ahead to the fall, the Chiefs will travel to Baker for a kickoff classic on August 16 before opening their regular season at home against Lighthouse Christian.
Escambia County will host Wilcox Central on August 30.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
BayBears Beat The Wahoos
May 18, 2019
The Blue Wahoos threw out two runners at the plate, another trying to stretch a double into a triple, then had their pitchers combine for 11 strikeouts with only one walk issued.
Usually, it’s a summation for a win.
But just the opposite unfolded Friday night in an 8-2 loss against the Mobile BayBears that became the worst home defeat of the early season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 had only a few moments for cheer.
“Really rough,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, whose team managed only four hits. “Nothing together. A lot of misplays and offensively we really lacked a lot of quality at-bats.”
The BayBears (17-24), who entered the weekend series with the second-fewest wins in the Southern League, won for a second consecutive night by unleashing seven doubles among their 12 hits.
The loss trimmed the Blue Wahoos (26-16) first-place lead in the South Division to four games after Biloxi’s win Friday night. The Blue Wahoos had won seven of 10 previous games against Mobile before these two losses.
“We just came out flat. Just really flat,” Borrego said. “But baseball is just like that. You can lose one, two, three in a row, then you can come back. That is the good thing about baseball.”
In fact, the Blue Wahoos lost their first two games against Biloxi in the previous homestand, then won the final three games of the series by scoring a combined 30 runs.
“We just need to start playing better. I mean we have been playing well all season, but we just need to leave this behind and play better baseball.”
Blue Wahoos starter Sean Poppen absorbed the loss, working into the sixth inning and allowing six hits while striking out six and not walking a batter.
Poppen had two clean innings to start the game. But with one out in the third inning, the BayBears’ Zane Gortwitz reached on an infield error. The next two batters, Branden Marsh and Brandon Sandovel doubled to score a pair of runs.
Joahn Urena hit a grounder that was misplayed into a hit, scoring the third run. During this sequence, however, the Blue Wahoos prevented worse damage by throwing out two runners trying to score on strong relays to the plate.
Poppen then retired the next eight batters in order.
“Poppen gave us a quality outing,” Borrego said. “If we are able to make at least one of those plays, we get out of the inning or maybe give up one run. He battled to get to six innings. He pitched really well.”
The Blue Wahoos had their only chance for a big inning when loading the bases with none out in the fifth. Travis Blankenhorn drove in a run, but while hitting into a double play. Alex Kirilloff walked, one of three times he reached base, and Caleb Hamilton singled to reload the bases.
Taylor Grzelakowski walked to force in a run before Jaylin Davis’ grounded out to end the inning.
“We have a big inning possibly going there with the bases loaded, but we couldn’t put anything together,” Borrego said. “Obviously tomorrow is another day. We just need to regroup and come back and get the series.”
The Blue Wahoos have won all eight series this season.