Birmingham Rallies For Seventh Inning Win Over The Wahoos
May 23, 2014
Pensacola Blue Wahoos righty Robert Stephenson is tabbed as the Cincinnati Reds organization’s top prospect this season.
However, he has no wins and two losses, so far, in the month of May. Thursday night, he earned a no decision as the Blue Wahoos blew a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning and lost to the Birmingham Barons, 4-3, in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
In his last four starts, Stephenson has allowed four earned runs for an ERA of 1.50, struck out 28 batters in 24 innings and only walked eight. Opposing hitters are batting .167 against him during that span. He leads the Southern League with 61 strike outs total.
Now those are the numbers of a top pitching prospect, who has taken the mound since he was 9-years-old and now at age 21 throws fastballs clocked Thursday night at 99 mph. About a half dozen Major League scouts looked on as the No. 19 prospect in the nation (among thousands of minor league prospects) gave up one run on two hits, struck out six and walked four in six innings of work.
“He’s like a wild stallion,” Pensacola manager Delino DeShields said about Stephenson. “We just have to corral some of that energy and fire he has out there. He dominated tonight.”
Stephenson outpitched the Chicago White Sox No. 9 prospect, Chris Beck, who gave up two earned runs on four hits in five innings and struck out four batters.
Stephenson said he’s not worried about his stats. He wants to throw inside fastballs for first pitch strikes to hitters and not fall behind in the count.
“I’m not concerned about my wins and losses,” he said. “I just want to give my team a chance to win.” And “absolutely” strike hitters out he said grinning.
Wahoos pitching coach Jeff Fassero said the main things for Stephenson to work on in Pensacola are more consistency and mastering his change-up. Against the Barons, Stephenson’s second inning was inconsistent. That’s when he gave up three walks, one of which led to a run when the Barrons’ Rangel Ravelo scored on a double to the gap by Kevan Smith. However, Stephenson slipped out of a bases-loaded jam.
“He’s been looking better,” Fassero said about the Reds’ minor league player of the year last season. “He just needs more consistency of all his stuff.”
by Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lose to the Birmingham Barons 4-3 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Thursday. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Barons
May 22, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Birmingham Barons 7-2 in the first game of a five-game series Wednesday night.
Pensacola got on the scoreboard first in the fifth inning when left fielder Brodie Greene hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field that scored Juan Duran, who led off the inning with a double over the centerfielder’s head. Two more runs scored on a walk to Devin Lohman, a double down the right field line by Rey Navarro and another double to right by Travis Mattair, who has a six-game hitting streak.
In the next inning with the bases loaded, Greene cleared the bases, hitting a sizzling groundball into the left field corner for a triple that gave Pensacola a, 7-1, lead. He also scored a run.
“Each at bat I’m feeling better and better,” Greene said. “I’m trying to take advantage of my opportunities.”
Birmingham scored in the sixth inning on a home run by Trace Thompson. It was the only run given up by Pensacola’s starting pitcher, Daniel Corcino, who struck out the first Barons’ batter in four of the first five innings and had six strikeouts total.
Pensacola manager Delaino DeShields liked Corcino’s performance Wednesday, after giving up six runs in 1 2/3 innings in his last outing.
“It was a solid game for Corcino,” he said. “He had a rough outing the last time but was back tonight.”
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Snap Skid And Beat Suns
May 20, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (19-26) avoided the sweep and defeated the Jacksonville Suns (21-23), 11-8, in the series finale at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos offense propelled them to victory, scoring five runs in the sixth and four runs in the eighth.
RHP Mikey O’Brien made his fourth start of the season for the Wahoos. O’Brien had his highest strikeout total of the season with nine. The right-hander threw a solid game but ran into trouble in the sixth inning; he was pulled from the game with the bases loaded and no outs. RHP Drew Hayes couldn’t close the door and allowed all three of O’Brien’s runs to score. Hayes lasted just 0.1 innings and gave up one run on one hit. RHP Brooks Pinckard finished off the sixth inning and ended up earning the win for the Wahoos.
The Wahoos bats exploded after a quiet series against the Suns. Brodie Greene gave the Wahoos the lead in the fifth with a solo home run to left field. Ross Perez came up with the bases loaded in the sixth and cleared them with a double into the right field corner. The Wahoos went ahead thanks to back-to-back triples from Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran. Duran added a solo home run in the eighth inning. Greene finished the day 1-for-2 with a couple of runs batted in. Travis Mattair got a hit for the fifth straight game and went 2-for-5. Rey Navarro continued to hit the ball well against the Suns; he finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI. Devin Lohman added some more insurance for the Wahoos in the eighth with an RBI double. The Wahoos scored at least five runs, so use promo code WAHOOS on all online orders at PapaJohns.com on Tuesday to get 50% off your order.
LHP Justin Nicolino made the start for the Suns. Nicolino gave up eight hits and five runs while striking out three. RHP Collin Cargill came on in relief of Nicolino in the sixth. Cargill took the loss, surrendering four hits and one run in 0.2 innings of work.
The Suns tied the game in the third on a solo shot from Austin Nola; he finished the game 2-for-5 and added a double to his ledger. Brady Shoemaker scored a run and went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. J.T. Realmuto added a double and a run scored. Alex Burg’s two-run home run in the ninth cut the Wahoos lead to three, but the Suns couldn’t complete the comeback.
The Wahoos are off Tuesday, but stay in Pensacola for a five-game set with the Birmingham Barons starting Wednesday. RHP Daniel Corcino (3-4, 4.21) will start for the Wahoos. RHP Nick McCully (2-3, 6.55) will go for the Suns.
by Tommy Thrall
Are You Ready For Some HS Football? Spring Games This Week
May 19, 2014
Are you ready for some high school football? Spring jamborees for most area teams are this week.
Spring drills are underway on the practice fields, with teams limited a total of 20 practice sessions for spring. Those spring drill culminate in the spring jamborees.
Here’s the local schedule:
Thursday, May 22
- Milton at Pensacola
- Tate Aggie Crimson/Gray game
Friday, May 23
- Northview at Jay
- West Florida at Washington
- Pine Forest at Pace
- Lincoln at Escambia
Friday, May 30
- Niceville at Tate
Pictured: The defending state champion Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals 26-0 during the 2013 regular season. The Royals will host the Chiefs during a spring game Friday night. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Fall To Suns
May 19, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-26) lost their fourth straight, 3-0, at the hands of the Jacksonville Suns (21-22). Both teams pitched well in another low-scoring contest. The Wahoos took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Suns bullpen threw eight scoreless innings on the way to the win.
RHP Michael Lorenzen didn’t allow a hit through 5.0 innings pitched. The right-hander was pulled in favor of a pinch hitter, but Steve Selsky struck out looking with Devin Lohman standing on second. Lorenzen struck out six and walked a season-high four batters. Elvin Ramirez threw two scoreless innings behind Lorenzen and allowed just two hits. Shane Dyer took the loss for the Wahoos, he gave up three runs over 2.0 innings pitched.
The Wahoos couldn’t get much going with the bat and managed five hits. Lohman continued to his hot streak with a double; he went 1-for-3.
Suns starter Angel Sanchez left the game in the second inning after being struck by a hard liner by Travis Mattair. Sanchez pitched just 1.0 inning and allowed one hit. RHP Tyler Higgins did a fantastic job in relief. Higgins gave up three hits over 5.0 innings out of the bullpen, his longest appearance of the season. The right-hander struck out a season-high four batters. LHP Greg Nappo pitched two scoreless innings for the Suns and earned the win. Nick Wittgren earned his sixth save of the season.
Austin Nola and Wilfredo Gimenez put together a couple of singles in the sixth, but Ramirez coaxed a fly ball from Ryan Fisher to get out of the inning. Nola finished the day 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Brady Shoemaker broke the scoreless tie with a base hit in the eighth inning. Gimenez provided an insurance run with a double, scoring Shoemaker from first. The Suns tacked on one more in the eighth thanks to a solo home run from right fielder Alex Burg. Nick Wittgren earned his sixth save of the season for the Suns.
RHP Mikey O’Brien (2-2, 3.33) will receive the start for the Wahoos in the series finale. O’Brien has a 1.80 ERA as a starter this season and the Wahoos are 3-0 during his starts this season. LHP Justin Nicolino (2-2, 3.32) will make the start for the Suns.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Lose Third Straight
May 18, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-25) fell for the third game in a row to the Jacksonville Suns (20-22), 4-2, in front of a sellout crowd at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos have now dropped seven of their first eight games against the Suns this season.
RHP Jon Moscot made his ninth start for the Wahoos and took the loss for the third time this season. Moscot gave up 2 R/ER on four hits and struck out five batters through 5.0 innings. Brooks Pinckard came on in relief of Moscot and pitched two scoreless innings.
Devin Lohman hit his third home run of the year in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Suns lead to one. The shortstop had a big night for the Wahoos; he went 3-for-4 adding two singles to his ledger. Travis Mattair had a hit for the third straight game, this one a double down the third baseline. Chris Berset got his first base knock with the Wahoos this season, an RBI single in the eighth inning. Juan Duran had a big night at the plate; he went 2-for-3 with a single and a double.
Marlins top prospect Andrew Heaney started for the Suns and twirled a gem before running into a bit of trouble in the eighth inning. Heaney gave up 2 R/ER on seven hits and his 7.2 innings were a season-high. Heaney struck out eight and walked just one batter. James Nygren gave up a hit, but earned the save for the Suns.
The Suns took the lead in the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Danny Black, which scored leadoff hitter Brent Keys. J.T. Realmuto’s RBI gave the Suns a two-run lead. Third baseman Alfredo Lopez went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Austin Nola’s two-run triple in the eighth inning sealed the win for the Suns.
The Wahoos will give the ball to RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 2.51) in the fourth game of the series on Sunday afternoon. RHP Angel Sanchez (0-6, 5.80) will start for the Suns.
by Tommy Thrall
Escambia Special Olympics Held At Tate (With Gallery)
May 17, 2014
The track and field portion of the Escambia County Specials Olympics was held Friday at Tate High School.
Hundreds of athletes from over a dozen schools took part in Friday’s event. Hundreds of Tate High students also took part, running events and serving as volunteer “buddies” for the athletes.
The day included track and field events, softball and tennis ball tosses, and other competitive events — plus fun events like fishing games, a petting zoo, face painting and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Friday’s event had been rained out three previous times this year.
Pictured: Friday’s track and field events Special Olympics held Friday at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Second Game of Series To The Jacksonville Suns
May 17, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-24) dropped the second game of the series to the Jacksonville Suns (19-22), 3-2, at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Home runs accounted for all the runs in the game and starting pitchers Robert Stephenson and Chipper Smith combined for 14 strikeouts.
Stephenson had his longest outing of the season for the Wahoos; he gave up 3 R/ER in 7.0 innings pitched. The Reds’ top prospect struck out eight batters and walked just one, but he took the loss. The right-hander had pitched 13.0 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a fourth inning home run to Brady Shoemaker. RHP Drew Hayes followed behind Stephenson with a scoreless eighth inning and a strikeout. RHP Justin Freeman pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one batter.
Travis Mattair broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning for the second night in a row on a single to center. Juan Duran followed behind him with the game-tying home run to left field. It was Duran’s third homer of the season.
Smith made his Double-A debut for the Suns. The left-hander gave up 2 R/ER on three hits through 5.2 innings, which was his longest outing of the season. Smith struck out six Wahoo batters and gave up just one walk. RHP Jheyson Manzueta earned the win in relief of Smith; he gave up no hits through 2.1 innings. RHP Nick Wittgren earned the save, getting Juan Silverio to ground out to shortstop Austin Nola to end the game.
The Suns were aided by a couple of home runs from their four and five hitters. Shoemaker’s two-run home run in the fourth gave the Suns their first lead of the game. Catcher J.T. Realmuto took Stephenson deep in the seventh to take back the lead.
The Wahoos will start Jon Moscot (3-2, 1.97) in the third game of the series. Marlins top prospect LHP Andrew Heaney (3-2, 2.35) will go for the Suns.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Fall 11-0 To Suns
May 16, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-23) fell to the Jacksonville Suns (18-22), 11-0, in the first game of the five-game series in front of a sellout crowd at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Suns jumped on the Wahoos early for nine runs in the first three innings and never looked back.
RHP Daniel Corcino was chased from the contest just 1.2 innings into the game. Corcino gave up six runs, but only two of them were earned as an error in the second inning thwarted him from having a quick one-two-three inning. Brooks Pinckard pitched well in relief for the Wahoos; the right-hander threw a perfect sixth inning and struck out one batter.
Hits were hard to come by for the Wahoos as they managed just three throughout the game. Travis Mattair singled in the fifth to break up the no-hitter for RHP Jose Urena. Steve Selsky managed an infield hit to lead off the sixth, but the top of the order couldn’t bring home the defensive replacement. Brodie Greene got his second hit as a pinch hitter in the ninth.
Urena had a fantastic start for the Suns. The right-hander gave up two hits over 6.0 innings of work and struck out five Wahoo batters. The Suns have now won each of Urena’s last six starts. Edgar Olmos pitched 3.0 innings in relief and earned the save for the Suns.
The Suns exploded offensively over the first three innings of the game against the Wahoos. J.T. Realmuto led the charge for the Suns; he went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Realmuto is the 10th best prospect in the Marlins system and had an RBI in each of the first three innings. Leadoff hitter Brent Keys had a great night at the plate; he went 4-for-6 with four singles and three runs scored. Third baseman Alfredo Silverio hit a solo shot to lead off the top of the third and gave the Suns a 7-0 lead. Austin Nola doubled three times for the Suns and added two RBI to his ledger.
The Wahoos will send top prospect RHP Robert Stephenson (2-3, 3.72) to the bump in the second game of the series. The Suns starter has yet to be determined.
by Tommy Thrall
Wahoos Win Rain Shortened Game
May 15, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-22) defeated the Birmingham Barons (16-23), 3-2, in a rain-shortened contest at Regions Field in Birmingham. The Wahoos scored in the top of the fifth thanks to a Juan Silverio RBI double and the Barons would only get one more opportunity as the game was called due to rain in the middle of the sixth inning.
RHP Mikey O’Brien made the start for the Wahoos and earned his second win of the season. O’Brien allowed 2 R/0 ER on five hits and struck out two batters through 5.0 innings. The right-hander has lowered his ERA from 5.25 to 3.33 over his last three starts. RHP Terry Doyle took the loss for the Barons. Doyle pitched 6.0 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.
Silverio led the Wahoos with two doubles and two RBI. Left fielder Donald Lutz hit his first home run since April 24th, a solo shot that put the Wahoos ahead in the first inning. Yorman Rodriguez had his third multi-hit game in a row and hit his first double since coming off the disabled list.
Birmingham’s Rangel Ravelo and Josh Richmond had a hit and an RBI each. Shortstop Jaime Pedroza went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
The Wahoos return to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for a 10-game homestand on Thursday. The Wahoos take on the Jacksonville Suns in the first five-game set. RHP Daniel Corcino (3-3, 3.97) will start for the Wahoos and RHP Jose Urena (3-2, 5.63) will go for the Suns.