Six-Run Fourth Lifts Blue Wahoos To 10-3 Win Over Shuckers
July 8, 2023
When the big inning ended, its production complete, Troy Johnston and his Blue Wahoos teammate Norel González exchanged a celebratory fist bump near first base.
It was only the fourth inning, but a statement was made.
On a Friday night when the team wore its Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms for the third recognition of a season initiative in Minor League Baseball, this one was filled with line-drive ropes and a couple home run pokes in the Blue Wahoos’ 10-3 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers.
Both Johnston and Gonzalez homered in the game. Those blasts were separate from a six-run, fourth inning that changed a 3-2 deficit into a five-run lead.
From that point, Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios and three relievers – Eli Villalobos, Cristian Charle, and West Tunnell – spun scoreless innings the rest of the way. Palacios worked on a cliff’s edge, but got out of bases-loaded jam in the third inning after allowing two runs, then overcame two baserunners in the fourth inning. He finished five innings to earn the win.
Eight from Pensacola’s batting lineup scored runs. Five players had multiple hits. Johnston went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and walked twice. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with a booming homer over the right-center berm.
José Devers had a pair of hits, a pair of RBI and several notable defensive plays at shortstop. He was playing that spot Friday with Nasim Nuñez and pitcher Patrick Monteverde in Seattle for Saturday’s SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
First baseman Bennett Hostetler, catcher Will Banfield and center fielder Dalvy Rosario each collected two hits.
The fourth inning decided the game. Banfield led off with a single. With one out, the next seven Pensacola hitters reached base. Cobie Fletcher-Vance had one of the biggest hits with a 2-run double, and scored on Devers’ two-run single.
It was the Blue Wahoos’ first win in the Pensacola Pok-ta-Pok uniforms, which is part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversion initiative to honor Latin American heritage in the game. Pok-ta-Pok was the first Mesoamerican ball game, played thousands of years ago.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to gain a series edge in Saturday’s fifth game of the homestand against the Shuckers.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Johnson’s Strong Start Spoiled In Wahoos 10-4 Defeat
July 7, 2023
The Blue Wahoos had a prime, third-inning opportunity for more runs and a padded lead.
They came up empty.
It became a prelude to a game-ending feeling as well, after the Biloxi Shuckers exploded against Pensacola’s bullpen for a 10-4 win Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Shuckers flipped a 4-2 deficit with a four-run, eighth inning, then tacked on three more runs in the ninth for the blowout win.
All this followed a start that went well for the home team on Mullet Thursday. The players wore new Pensacola Mullets uniforms with a blue-pink design, as part of a second-half changeup for the routine identity change on Thursday games.
The Mullets quickly jumped to a 2-0 lead. Nasim Nuñez led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Troy Johnston and scored when Cody Morissette’s grounder became a run-scoring throwing error on Shuckers starter Tobias Myers.
Will Banfield’s double then drove in Morissette. Pensacola expanded its lead to 3-0 after Johnson’s RBI single in the second inning. In the third, Banfield reached on a wild pitch on a third-strike swing, then advanced to third on José Devers’ double with none out.
But Myers struck out Griffin Conine and Jose Mesa Jr. and got Norel González out on a flyout.
That missed chance was part of six runners left in scoring position in the first seven innings.
Pensacola starter M.D. Johnson had a strong outing, working into the sixth inning, allowing just two runs and three hits. From there, however, three relievers combined to yield eight runs. It started when first reliever Josan Méndez was tagged for a leadoff homer in the seventh from Zavier Warren.
Matt Pushard, who had not allowed a hit or a run in two previous appearances since being elevated to Double-A, had a rough night.
He gave up a leadoff homer in the eighth to the Shuckers’ outfielder Jackson Chourio, the No. 3 rated player in Minor League Baseball, then a single, walk and two-run double by Freddy Zamora that gave the Shuckers their first lead. A run-scoring sacrifice fly provided a three-run lead.
The Shuckers added three more against Brady Puckett in the ninth to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
The series continues on Friday through Sunday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Eder Leads Wahoos To 3-1 Victory Over Shuckers
July 6, 2023
Jake Eder’s first start in Pensacola since 2021 resembled so many of the superlatives he produced in the past.
The Blue Wahoos bullpen followed the same lead, too.
Eder, who was one of the top pitching prospects in Minor League Baseball before two major injury setbacks, continued his progression with five scoreless innings, including a bases-loaded escape that became pivotal in the Biloxi Shuckers a 3-1 victory Wednesday.
“It’s good to be out here competing again,” said Eder, who had Tommy John elbow surgery in 2021, then suffered a foot injury in spring training in March when he was slated to join the Blue Wahoos roster on opening day. “I am getting better every start and I am going to keep getting better.
“It’s been almost 22 months since I made my first rehab start (in June) in Jupiter and to be able to go back out and feel the fans, feel the energy, get the adrenaline going and compete… I have been waiting a long time to do that.”
A large crowd (4,567) at Blue Wahoos Stadium saw Eder allow just one hit in five innings. He threw 85 pitches, 48 for strikes, and overcame five walks.
His outing was highlighted after allowing three consecutive walks to start the second inning. He then got a pair of flyouts framed around a strikeout to end the threat.
From that point, he was dominating, facing just one above the minimum batters in the last three innings.
“That is the mental game right there. Just stay relaxed and get more relaxed than I was,” he said. “I just threw one pitch at a time. That’s the mental side of getting through innings like that.”
The trio of relievers who followed were equally effective. Eli Villalobos pitched a scoreless sixth inning, then Zach McCambley followed with five strikeouts while allowing one run in his two innings.
In the ninth, closer Jefry Yan recorded his eighth save. After plunking a batter with two outs, the lefty coaxed a ground out to end the game.
Yan then stayed and signed autographs for all the kids who lined the tunnel entrance from the dugout.
The Blue Wahoos got a solo home run from Cody Morissette in the third inning. Morissette then drew a bases-loaded walk for another RBI in the eighth inning.
Catcher Will Banfield reached on a twin error in the sixth inning and scored on a José Devers RBI single.
From that point, the Blue Wahoos relief corps was as strong as desired to seal the victory.
Eder, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Miami Marlins system by MLB Pipeline, made his first appearance in Blue Wahoos Stadium since August 13, 2021 when he worked 3.2 innings against the Montgomery Biscuits. He allowed just one hit in the game.
It followed his appearance in mid-July that year in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
He was later placed on the injured list and it led to the Tommy John surgery.
“Been a long way back,” he said.
The series continues Thursday against the Shuckers with Mullet Thursday with Pensacola taking on their alternate identity as the Mullets and wearing their specialty jerseys
Pensacola will have M.D. Johnson (1-2, 5.23 ERA) on the mound against Biloxi’s Tobias Myers (4-3, 6.10 ERA).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Festive 4th For The Wahoos, But Hostetler’s Homer Not Enough
July 5, 2023
Specialty uniforms and a holiday-dressed, capacity crowd became the brightest sparkle for the Blue Wahoos on the Fourth of July.
The game itself went the other way.
In their first trip this season into Blue Wahoos Stadium, the Biloxi Shuckers jumped to a big, early-inning lead, then held off Pensacola’s comeback attempts for an 8-5 victory in Tuesday’s sun-splashed start to a six-game series between the Gulf Coast neighbors.
The Blue Wahoos were playing their first home game in 16 days and the first since winning the first half Southern League South Division. This was just the second time in the past 10 years the Blue Wahoos played at home on July 4.
The game time (4:05 p.m.) was designed to allow fans to exit and have an opportunity to take in the Pensacola Symphony concert at the amphitheater behind center field, as well as the annual downtown fireworks show that occurred on a waterfront setup across from Bayfront Parkway.
The Blue Wahoos wore specialty Independence Day designed jerseys, which were auctioned during the game to fans with proceeds donated to Folds of Honor. There was also a pie-eating contest at the end of the first inning.
The Blue Wahoos also honored a long-time usher, who is a decorated military veteran, as a new salute sponsored by Vannoy’s Tires during the grounds crew redressing the infield in the fifth inning.
By then, however, the Shuckers had gained control of the game.
Six of the runs came against Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer, who has been among the team’s most effective in the rotation this season.
On this day, however, Fitterer (4-3, 4.34 ERA) struggled with his fastball and the Shuckers took full advantage. Fitterer allowed a season-high six runs, all of them in the first three innings.
The Shuckers batted around in a five-run third inning that featured four singles and a double, all part of the Shuckers’ 11 hits. In both of the innings Fitterer allowed runs, the frame began with a four-pitch walk.
In the third, leadoff batter Lamar Sparks reached and scored on a fielding error. He then scored again on a bases-loaded walk. In between, Biloxi had five consecutive batters reach base. It led to an early exit for Fitterer, who worked four innings and gave up seven hits – his second-most this season.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of runs in the sixth on Troy Johnston’s run-scoring double and Griffin Conine’s RBI single. Johnston had another big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 and reaching base all five times with a pair of walks to raise his batting average to .272.
Bennett Hostetler followed in the ninth with a three-run homer with one out. Johnston drew a two-out walk before José Devers flied out to end the game.
The loss evened the Blue Wahoos’ home record at 17-17 and continued the team’s misfortune at their ballpark. On the road, the Blue Wahoos are 27-14, which is how they became the first half Southern League South Division winners.
The second game of the week-long series against the Shuckers is Wednesday night with the Blue Wahoos’ Jake Eder pitching in his first game at Blue Wahoos Stadium since the 2021 season. Eder, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft, who is rated the Marlins’ No. 4 overall prospect, dazzled two years ago with a 1.77 ERA with the Blue Wahoos and appearance in the 2021 Futures Game.
The lefthander then had Tommy John surgery in 2021 and started on the recovery road in 2022 when suffering a foot injury that sidelined him until recently. After pitching twice in the past two weeks on the road, Wednesday will be Eder’s much-anticipated return to Blue Wahoos Stadium.
by Bill Vilona, photos Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
North End Elite 8U Wins Stars, Stripes & Softball Tournament
July 4, 2023
The North End Elite 8U team took first place in the USFA Stars, Stripes & Softball tournament. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bermudez, Blue Wahoos Blank Biscuits In Road Trip Finale
July 4, 2023
Three Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in the finale of their two-week road trip on Monday night, beating the Montgomery Biscuits by a score of 9-0.
Jonathan Bermudez (W, 2-2) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless, two-hit innings before Matt Pushard and Josan Méndez finished the job with hitless relief. The Blue Wahoos earned a split of their series in Montgomery and finished their road trip with a 7-4 record.
After going hitless in their first four innings against Victor Muñoz (L, 6-5), the Blue Wahoos finally broke through in the fifth. Griffin Conine led off the inning with a solo homer, and Jan Mercado followed with an RBI single to put Pensacola ahead 2-0.
Troy Johnston added to his league-leading RBI total in the next two innings, hitting a solo homer in the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh. Johnston’s homer was his 15th of the season, tying him for the Southern League lead.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance added an RBI single in the eighth before Nasim Nuñez put the game on ice with a three-run double later in the inning.
The Blue Wahoos return home to Pensacola for a Fourth of July matinee on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Northwest Escambia 10U Chiefs Take Second In Cal Ripken State Series
July 3, 2023
The Northwest Escambia 10U Chiefs battled the best teams in the state and finished second Sunday in the Alabama State Championship in Florence, Alabama.
They will advance to the regionals July 14 in Mobile to battle the best times in the Cal Ripken southwest region.
In addition to taking second in the state, the NWE Chiefs also won the District 7 Cal Ripken all-star tournament and the Gulf Coast Recreation Classic all-star tournament.
Pictured: (bottom row, L-R) Hayden Hollingsworth, Brantley Sharpless, Hendrix Ward, Ridge Odom, (middle row, L-R) Caleb Madison, Hayden Batson, Jordan Ledkins, Parker Gilmore, Mason Wilson, Kayson Cooley, Walker Maughon, (top row, L-R) Coach Matt Gilmore, Coach Wesley Maughon, and Coach Mike Cooley. Not pictured: Dillan Stuart and Coach Jay Madison. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-County All Stars Are Florida Little League Section 1 Runner-ups
July 3, 2023
The Tri-County All Stars took the runner-up spot in the Florida Little League Section 1 State Tournament on Sunday at Showalter Park in Century.
The Town of Century and the Century Baseball Association hosted the tournament due to storm damage to the American Legion Park in Jay.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Homers Not Enough As Blue Wahoos Fall Late To Biscuits
July 3, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame an early deficit and hit three home runs, but saw a late lead slip away in the eighth inning in an 8-7 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday afternoon.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Heriberto Hernandez hit a game-tying RBI double off Eli Villalobos (L, 0-1) before Evan Edwards dealt the decisive blow with a go-ahead RBI single.
Luis Palacios was ambushed by Montgomery in the first, and the Blue Wahoos trailed 4-0 after four batters thanks to a pair of two-run homers from Junior Caminero and Logan Driscoll. The lefty settled down after that, however, and completed 6.0 innings for the third time at Double-A this season.
The Blue Wahoos wasted no time answering back in the second inning, scoring five runs off Sean Hunley to take a 5-4 lead. Norel González hit a two-run homer and José Devers added an RBI single before Troy Johnston hit his team-leading 14th home run to put Pensacola up a run.
After a Will Banfield homer in the fifth and a run-scoring double play off the bat of González in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos led 7-4. Mason Auer got the Biscuits back within a run at 7-6 on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Nelson Alvarez (W, 4-1) pitched a tidy top of the eighth before Montgomery’s rally against Villalobos in the bottom of the inning. Enmanuel Mejia (S, 3) pitched around a hit batsman in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series and road trip against the Biscuits on Monday.
written by Erik Bremer
Hostetler Homer Helps Blue Wahoos Beat Biscuits
July 2, 2023
Bennett Hostetler hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a wild 5-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Saturday night.
In the bottom of the first, Ronny Simon hit the first pitch of the evening from M.D. Johnson for a solo homer. The Blue Wahoos twice overcame early deficits to tie the game, thanks to a run-scoring sacrifice fly from J.D. Orr in the third and an RBI single from Griffin Conine in the fourth.
Simon again got the best of Johnson in the fifth with a go-ahead RBI single to put the Biscuits up 3-2. Johnson, in his first start since returning from the injured list, allowed three runs, two earned, over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.
In the seventh, Cody Morissette led off the inning for Pensacola with his second double of the night against John Doxakis (L, 4-3). Orr reached on an error, setting the stage for Hostetler’s mammoth blast off the left field videoboard to put the Blue Wahoos up 5-3.
Zach McCambley (W, 1-0) worked 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, highlighted by a nifty escape from a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh. Junior Caminero hit a flyout to right field that would have otherwise scored a run, but Simon made an ill-advised attempt to advance from first to second and Norel González threw him out with a savvy throw before the run crossed the plate for an inning-ending double play.
Jefry Yan (S, 7) got the final six outs to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Sunday.
Written by Eric Bremer; File photo courtesy Blue Wahoos