Ellis' Hurls, Hits M-Braves to Win over Wahoos
Pensacola, FL - Chris Ellis did it all for the Mississippi Braves on Sunday afternoon, picking up the win and going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles at the plate in a 4-3 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Ellis (6-0) fired six innings for the Braves (16-21), allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking four to pick up the victory. But the real story was his bat.
Johan Camargo in the third hit a one-out double off Pensacola starter Jackson Stephens (2-3), and Ellis followed with the first of his two doubles for an RBI. He came in to score on a Dansby Swanson RBI single to make it 2-0.
Pensacola (22-15) bounced back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game with two of their own. Ellis walked Eric Jagielo and Chad Wallach, and Calten Daal grounded into a force at third. Jeff Gelalich in his double-A debut smacked a double to score a run, and Matt Lipka's throw to the infield was off the mark to score a second run and tie the game.
The Blue Wahoos grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a solo home run from Alex Blandino, his third of the year, a night after he provided the Wahoos with the walkoff single in the 10th on Saturday.
But the M-Braves pulled back ahead with two in the sixth. Swanson doubled off the top of the wall in left, his 16th double of the year, tying him for second in all of Minor League Baseball. Dustin Peterson reached on a fielder's choice trying to get Swanson at third, but he was safe. Jordy Lara walked to load the bases.
Matt Kennelly came up against reliever Carlos Gonzalez with the bags full and grounded into a double play for the first two outs, but Swanson scored to tie the game 3-3. Then with two out, Matt Lipka came through with an RBI single up the middle for a 4-3 lead.
Stephens took the loss, allowing all four runs on five hits over five innings, striking out three and walking one. Gonzalez blew his second save of the season.
Stephen Janas (S, 1) extended his scoreless streak to 15.2 innings, picking up the first save of his professional career by slamming the door over the final three innings.
The Braves and Wahoos go toe-to-toe in the third of five games on Monday night at 6:30 PM CT at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Left-hander Sean Newcomb (1-2, 3.96) gets the nod against Wahoos right-hander Barrett Astin (3-0, 2.95).
Mississippi Braves (16-21) 4 R 8 H 1 E
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (22-15) 3 R 7 H 0 E
W - Ellis (6-0)
L - Stephens (2-3)
S - Janas (1)
Time: 2:36
Attendance: 5,038