Houser Pitches Complete Game Against Wahoos

BILOXI, Miss. - For the second night in a row, the Biloxi Shuckers plucked one of its many Milwaukee Brewers hot young Double-A pitchers from its top 30 prospect pile and used them to shut down the Pensacola Blue Wahoos batters.

This time it was the 22-year-old Adrian Houser who threw a perfect game through six innings as 3,168 witnessed his first complete-game gem in a 6-0 victory at MGM Park. Biloxi now leads the best-of-five game series, 2-0. The series heads to Pensacola for a 6:35 p.m. Saturday game that's a must win for the Blue Wahoos to stay alive.

Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin made sure the perfect game ended with a solid line drive single to center to start the seventh inning and extended the Blue Wahoos no-hit streak to 556 games. Despite the hit, the Shuckers fans recognized Houser with loud cheers.

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly admitted Biloxi pitching has totally dominated the Blue Wahoos lineup. The team has managed just six hits in two games against Biloxi, who's starting rotation sports a 2.38 ERA over 63 starts.

Pensacola's top hitter Jesse Winker, Ray Chang, Alex Blandino and Ervin are all 1-7. The rest of the Pensacola hitters remain hitless. Pensacola has been out hit 22-6 by the Shuckers after two games.

"We have to tip our cap to their pitchers," Kelly said. "We're seeing a great staff. Houser was pinpoint tonight. He took advantage of the strike zone."

Houser threw his first ever complete game, shutting out Pensacola on three hits and striking out 10.

Both Houser and Josh Hader, the Brewers No. 15 prospect, both came from a midseason trade with the Houston Astros.

"That's really strengthened their staff again," Kelly said.

Biloxi started with a pregame ceremony honoring the Americans lost in the 9/11 terrorist act with a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps" by a single horn player from the Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard led by Master Sgt. Jim Davidson.

Cody Reed loaded the bases his first two innings on the mound but only trailed Biloxi, 1-0. Both times he struck out the final two batters of the inning. However, he threw more than 50 pitches to do it.

"Those first two innings took a lot out of him," Kelly said.

Reed, the Cincinnati Reds No. 9 prospect who joined the Blue Wahoos pitching staff as part of a midseason trade with the Kansas City Royals for ace Johnny Cueto, allowed Biloxi second baseman Yadiel Rivera to score in the first inning on a ground out to first base.

Biloxi then hung four runs on Reed in the fifth inning with a two-run homer over the left field scoreboard by shortstop Orlando Arcia the main hit to go up, 5-0.

Thursday night, Biloxi pitcher Jorge Lopez threw a season-high 115 pitches, broke two bats, allowed three balls out of the infield, gave up one unearned run and allowed two hits in 6.2 innings. The Biloxi pitcher improved to 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA against Pensacola and has fanned 29 Blue Wahoos in 29.2 innings.

The winner of the South Division will play either the Twins Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts or the Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits. The Lookouts won the first game, 4-3, Thursday and Friday's game was rained out.

GAME NOTES

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the third game of the best-of-five Southern League South Division playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate the Biloxi Shuckers at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Blue Wahoos RHP Tim Adleman (9-10, 2.64) is scheduled to face the Shuckers RHP Tyler Wagner (11-5, 2.25).

You can buy your Southern League Playoffs tickets online at bluewahoos.com.

The games are broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station NewsRadio1620 (WNRP-AM). Listen for free at bluewahoos.com and by using the TuneIn Radio app on your mobile, desktop or home devices. Stream Wahoos games on MiLB.TV, a subscription-based service provided by Minor League Baseball.

BIG FISH Center fielder Phillip Ervin broke up Biloxi pitcher Adrian Houser's bid for a perfect game with a solid single to center and went 1-4 on the night...Left fielder Jesse Winker earned his first hit of the playoffs with a single in the seventh inning and was 1-3…The last hit was by second baseman Ryan Wright who singled in two at bats.

Playoff tickets are available to purchase at BlueWahoos.com! Don't miss your chance to experience family-fun entertainment with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.

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