Thrilling Comeback Falls Short As Blue Wahoos Drop Braves Finale
May 29, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came agonizingly close to completing a dramatic comeback on Sunday night, but fell 6-5 to the Mississippi Braves in their series finale.
Trailing 6-3 going into the ninth, the Blue Wahoos rallied back as Nasim Nuñez narrowly missed a game-tying three-run homer, instead settling for an RBI single off the right field wall. Nuñez was stranded as the tying run at third as Victor Mesa Jr. lined out to right field to end the game.
In an uncharacteristically shaky outing, Patrick Monteverde (L, 5-1) allowed six runs over 3.0 innings to take his first loss of the season.
The Blue Wahoos took two early leads against Luis De Avila (W, 2-4), as Cody Morissette and José Devers hit RBI singles in the second and third innings, but the Braves answered back against Monteverde each time. Mississippi took the lead for good with a four-run third, capped by an RBI single from Beau Philip.
In a rarity, each team finessed a steal of home on a double steal attempt. Pensacola brought home Mesa from third on a Devers steal in the third inning, marking their second steal of home in a week but just their sixth in team history. The Braves returned the favor in the bottom of the third as Justin Dean came home on a Luke Waddell steal.
With two on and two out in the ninth in a one-run game, the Braves called upon Trey Riley (S, 1) to go after Mesa. The Pensacola center fielder blistered a liner to right-center, where it was caught by Jesse Franklin V to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos remain 5.0 games ahead of second place Biloxi and Montgomery in the South Division with 24 games to play in the first half.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos continue their road trip on Tuesday as they travel to Biloxi to take on the Shuckers.
written by Erik Bremer, photo/Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Battered By Braves In 10-1 Loss
May 28, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season on Saturday night, falling 10-1 to the Mississippi Braves.
After a pregame rain delay, the Blue Wahoos managed just one run on three hits as the Braves rode a six-run fourth to a blowout victory.
Troy Johnston led off the fourth inning with a double against Scott Blewett (W, 2-2), and scored on a José Devers sacrifice fly to give Pensacola a brief 1-0 lead.
M.D. Johnson (L, 0-2) cruised through 3.0 hitless innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth. The righty loaded the bases with a hit batsman and a pair of walks, and Drew Lugbauer made the Blue Wahoos pay with a three-run double. Three batters later, Landon Stephens capped the big inning with a three-run homer.
Tyler Tolve added an RBI single in the fifth, and Beau Philip hit a homer of his own in the sixth. The Braves ended their night with two more runs in the eighth against Noah Gotsis in his first Blue Wahoos relief appearance.
The Blue Wahoos lost a game in the standings, and are now 5.0 games ahead of second place Biloxi in the South Division with 25 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Braves on Sunday.
by Erik Bremer
Myers Homers In Wahoos 4-0 Win Over Braves
May 27, 2023
Dane Myers hit an inside-the-park home run to start off a fun Friday night for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who defeated the Mississippi Braves 4-0 for their second win in a row.
Myers circled the bases in the first after his sinking liner got past diving Braves center fielder Jacob Pearson. It was just the fifth inside-the-parker in team history, and the first since Ivan De Jesus Jr. in 2019.
Evan Fitterer (W, 4-1) worked the first 5.2 innings of a four-hit shutout for the Blue Wahoos. The righty worked out of trouble in every inning, and got help from relievers Austin Roberts and Josan Méndez to complete the scoreless game.
Alan Rangel (L, 1-4) took the tough-luck loss for Mississippi, allowing only the Myers homer in 5.0 innings of work. The Blue Wahoos added some insurance with a three-run eighth, as Cody Morissette and Griffin Conine punched RBI singles past a drawn-in infield.
Norel González was 3-for-4 with a double, and José Devers finished 2-for-4 with a triple, stolen base and impressive double play on the defensive side with a diving stop at third base.
The Blue Wahoos gained a game in the standings, and are now 6.0 games clear of second place Montgomery and Biloxi in the South Division with 26 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Saturday in Mississippi.
by Erik Bremer
Palacios Leads Pensacola To 6-2 Win Over Braves
May 26, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got back in the win column on Thursday night, defeating the Mississippi Braves by a score of 6-2.
Luis Palacios (W, 2-1) took charge in a strong pitching performance, allowing two runs over 6.0 innings to earn the win.
The Blue Wahoos scored three runs on four singles in the first against Domingo Robles (L, 3-3), with RBI singles from Victor Mesa Jr. and Will Banfield followed by a double steal and a throwing error on catcher Tyler Tolve.
Banfield added another RBI single in the third as part of a three-hit night to extend the Pensacola lead to 4-0. Drew Lugbauer hit a two-run homer in the fourth, his third homer in as many nights, to account for Mississippi’s only offense of the night.
Ynmanol Mariñez drove in a pair with a two-run double in the eighth for his first Double-A hit, and Sean Reynolds locked down the win with a pair of hitless innings of relief.
The Blue Wahoos remain 5.0 games clear of second place Montgomery in the South Division with 27 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Friday at Trustmark Park.
written by Erik Bremer
Blue Wahoos Walked Off By Mississippi Braves
May 25, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered a frustrating defeat on Wednesday night, falling 2-1 to the Mississippi Braves in 10 innings after taking a 1-0 lead to the bottom of the ninth.
Drew Lugbauer tied the game for Mississippi in the ninth with a solo homer, and Tyler Tolve ended the game in the tenth with a two-out RBI single to bring home the winning run.
Pensacola managed only four hits in the game, with a Nasim Nuñez sacrifice fly in the third sending in their lone run of the night.
Jonathan Bermudez was outstanding in his second Blue Wahoos start, fanning eight batters over 6.0 scoreless innings. Cristian Charle worked 2.0 scoreless innings of relief before Brady Puckett (L, 0-1) allowed the game-tying homer to Lugbauer in the ninth and the walk-off single to Tolve in the tenth.
Lugbauer’s homer was his second in as many games for Mississippi, and the 13th in his career against the Blue Wahoos to lead all active Southern League opponents.
José Montilla worked the first four innings for the Braves in a spot start, and Hayden Deal, Jake McSteen and Kyle Wilcox (W, 1-0) each contributed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to keep Pensacola from adding to their lead.
The Blue Wahoos remain 5.0 games clear of second place Biloxi and Montgomery in the South Division with 28 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer, Blue Wahoos; photo Chris Harris Mississippi Braves
Blue Wahoos Run Wild, Begin Mississippi Road Trip With 7-1 Win
May 24, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos stole a season-high five bases, including their first steal of home since 2018, as they started their 12-game road trip with a 7-1 win over the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday night.
Forced into a bullpen game after a late scratch of scheduled starter Patrick Monteverde, the Blue Wahoos patched things together with Zack Leban, Dylan Bice (W, 1-0), Zach Willeman and Josan Méndez to win their second game in a row.
In the third, Cody Morissette swiped home on the back end of a double steal with Nasim Nuñez for only the fifth steal of home in Blue Wahoos history, and the first since Aristedes Aquino achieved the feat on July 19, 2018.
That would be the only run allowed by Braves starter Luis De Avila (L, 1-4), but the Blue Wahoos tacked on three in the sixth and three more in the ninth. All six subsequent runs were unearned, as the Blue Wahoos took advantage of a pair of crucial Mississippi errors.
In the sixth, Victor Mesa Jr. reached on a strikeout when the throw from catcher Tyler Tolve hit him in the baseline. Will Banfield brought home a run with a sacrifice fly before Bennett Hostetler drove in two more with a two-out RBI single. Hostetler finished the night 3-for-4.
In the ninth, an error from second baseman Luke Waddell opened the door for RBI singles from Troy Johnston and Banfield to put the game out of reach.
Mississippi’s lone run came on a solo homer from Drew Lugbauer against Willeman in the seventh.
The Blue Wahoos remain 5.0 games clear of second place Biloxi in the South Division with 29 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Wednesday at Trustmark Park.
written by Erik Bremer
Defending State Champion Jay Falls To Branford In 1A Final Four
May 23, 2023
The defending 1A station champion Jay Lady Royals fell 2-1 to Branford Buccaneers Monday in the Final Four in Clermont.
Jenna Toups surrendered two runs and five hits over six innings while walking one and striking out four.
Brett Watson led Jay at the plate, going 2-3. Caitlyn Gavin and Brooklyn Sorrells also added a hit each for the Royals.
Branford (25-4) moves on to the 1A state championship game tomorrow afternoon.. The Royals finished their season at 16-12.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High’s Jay Davis Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 22, 2023
Tate High School’s Jay Davis recently signed with Coastal Alabama East to continue his athletic and academic career. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos End Series With 3-1 Finale Win Over Smokies
May 22, 2023
On their Throwback Sunday, the Blue Wahoos returned to a narrative that’s worked well in the past.
They got solid starting pitching, put together just enough runs, then had their bullpen show its winning depth in the Blue Wahoos’ 3-1 victory against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With closer Sean Reynolds earning his league-best seventh save, thus pounding his glove in delight after recording the final pop out, this win enabled the Blue Wahoos (25-13) to gain a split in the six-game homestand with the Smokies and increase their first-place lead to five games in the Southern League South Division.
A crowd of 4,202 took a cue from famed organist Nancy Faust, who worked 41 years and missed just five games as the iconic Chicago White Sox entertainer. They clapped and sang along with her various medleys as the Blue Wahoos took a 3-1 lead in the fifth and played good defense the rest of the way.
Faust got one of the loudest cheers when announced for a final time in the ninth inning.
Pensacola’s winning inning occurred in a strange way. After J.D. Orr led off the fifth inning with a walk, José Devers laced a one-out single. Dane Myers drew a walk and Victor Mesa Jr. battled his way with foul balls and good takes to draw a bases-loaded walk to score Orr.
Troy Johnson then took a curveball in the back to force in the third run. A double-play ball by Will Banfield ended the inning with the 3-1 lead. The Blue Wahoos got their first run when Dane Myers tripled home José Devers in the first inning.
The Blue Wahoos had numerous other scoring chances in the game, but couldn’t break it open.
But their pitching Sunday was outstanding against the Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate and North Division leaders.
Blue Wahoos righthander M.D. Johnson, making his second start of the week, grinded through four innings. He gave up a leadoff walk against Andy Weber, who came around to score the game’s first run on two-out single by Cole Roederer.
But the rest of the way, Johnson found a way to get through innings.
He threw 82 pitches, yielded three walks and struck out five in those four innings. His best inning was his final one when he gave up a leadoff single, then a walk, but retired the next three batters with a pair of strikeouts and inning-ending flyout.
Cristian Charle and Josan Méndez followed with three scoreless innings of relief. They combined to allow just one hit and had a trio of strikeouts.
That set the table for Reynolds to finish the game and seal the win.
The Smokies had just four baserunners in the final five innings.
Following the game, as is customary on Sunday, children were able to run the bases and families played catch in the outfield.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before embarking on a two-week road trip to face the Mississippi Braves and Biloxi Shuckers.
The series against the M-Braves begins on Tuesday at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. The Blue Wahoos’ ace Patrick Monteverde (5-0, 1.29 ERA) is the scheduled starter against the M-Braves Luis De Avila (1-3, 4.00). The teams will play through Sunday, May 28.
After a rough start, the M-Braves (16-21), the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate, have turned things around. They were 7-3 in their last 10 games entering Sunday. It will be the Blue Wahoos’ first of two trips this season to Pearl, Miss.
Following that series, the Blue Wahoos will travel to Biloxi, Mississippi to face the Biloxi Shuckers for six games beginning on May 29.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Pensacola’s Comeback Foiled In 13-6 Loss To Tennessee
May 21, 2023
The Blue Wahoos are now on the wrong kind of streak.
After this week started with a pair of wins and a club-record 10-game winning streak, the Tennessee Smokies won their third in a row Saturday by answering the Blue Wahoos’ comeback attempt with a pair of 3-run homers in the eighth inning of a 13-6 blowout win.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 became energized when the Blue Wahoos rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the fifth inning and had a tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth inning.
The intrigue continued into the eighth.
That’s when the Tennessee Smokies Haydn McGeary blasted a first-pitch fastball from reliever Austin Roberts into the right-center berm for a 3-run homer.
The ball’s flight immediately had reliever Roberts kicking the mound in disgust.
The decisive moment then got worse for the Blue Wahoos (24-14) when reliever Zach Willeman gave up a walk, a single and second 3-run homer of the inning, this one by Bradlee Beesley, who went 2-for-3 in the game and scored four runs. The Smokies (21-17), leaders in the Southern League North Division, had 11 hits as every batter reached base.
But most of the crowd stayed around for the attraction of post-game fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Following the show, more than 130 Scouts of America youths, along with parents and scouting leaders, were part of a sleepover night at the ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer sustained his worst outing this season. He did not make it out of the second inning. When he was lifted with two outs, the Smokies already had a 5-0 lead.
Fitterer threw 69 pitches, only half for strikes, as he struggled with location unlike any prior start. The righthander yielded a season-high five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
In four prior starts, the 22-year-old Fitterer had allowed just five runs combined and recorded three consecutive wins in joining the team from High-A Beloit Sky Carp. He gave up four hits or fewer in each of those Pensacola starts.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos started their comeback with Griffin Conine’s RBI single.
Troy Johnston then smashed a 3-run homer in the fifth inning, part of a night when he went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.
Will Banfield homered to lead off the sixth inning. Nasim Nuñez drove home Bennett Hostetler with a RBI single. Nuñez was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on Dane Myers’ hit. Nuñez went 2-for-5 and was among seven Blue Wahoos batters with at least one hit.
All of that led into the eventual eighth inning when the Smokies blew open the game.
The Blue Wahoos will now hope to salvage a split in the 6-game series when closing the homestand Sunday afternoon against the Smokies.
M.D. Johnson (0-1, 3.67), who began the week Tuesday with a solid start (6 innings, 3 runs), returns to the mound for a repeat against the Smokies, who will throw Porter Hodge (0-3, 5.47) for a second time.
The game will also feature renowned baseball organist Nancy Faust, who performed 41 years for the Chicago White Sox beginning in 1970, and is considered a pioneer in game entertainment. She will be performing on the concourse behind home plate with the same kind of vintage organ she used at Comiskey Park.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos