Wahoos Win Slugfest 9-8 in Series Finale

Pensacola, Fla. - Pensacola recorded 14 hits in Wednesday's series finale, and they needed every one of them. The Wahoos fended off a late surge from the Barons to hold on for a 9-8 win.
Birmingham struck early for the second consecutive game with a three-run fourth inning. The first five Barons reached in order, and three came to score to give Birmingham a 4-0 lead.
The Wahoos were quick to respond in the bottom of the fourth with a rally of their own. After a walk and a single, Chadwick Tromp doubled home Aristides Aquino and Luis Gonzalez to cut the deficit to 4-3. But if the fourth inning was just the appetizer, then the fifth inning's rally was the main course.
Gavin LaValley led off the fifth with his second home run of the season, which tied the game at four. Pensacola's next five batters all reached with hits, which chased Barons starter Ian Clarkin (L, 1-1) from the game. Nick Longhi's two-run single capped a fourth inning that resulted in seven hits and six runs, giving the Wahoos a 9-4 lead. By the end of the inning, every Wahoos starter had recorded at least one hit for the game.
Despite the lead, Wyatt Strahan (W, 3-1) wasn't at his sharpest. He pitched five-plus innings and allowed a career-high 10 hits but limited the damage to only six runs (five earned). Pensacola manager Jody Davis used four different relievers to pitch the final four innings.
In the ninth inning with the Wahoos leading 9-8, Davis called on Alex Powers to finish the game. The 26-year old didn't disappoint as he retired the side in order to seal the win.
Pensacola will head east on I-10 tomorrow to take on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in a rematch of last season's Southern League South Division Championship series. Pensacola swept all three games last season in the playoffs to capture the franchise's first Southern League title. Defending Southern League Pitcher of the Week, Daniel Wright (2-1, 4.29) will open the series for the Wahoos. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. local time and can be heard on 97.1 The Ticket or at www.bluewahoos.com.
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos -
 
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The 2018 season is underway at beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium on Pensacola Bay. Group packages, season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are available for the 2018 season by calling (850) 934-8444 or online. Follow the Blue Wahoos at bluewahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos, and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall