PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Tony Santillan pitched six scoreless innings and combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout and 3-0 win for a third straight victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the third game of a five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium Friday night.
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-hander Tony Santillan pitched six scoreless innings and combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout and 3-0 win for a third straight victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the third game of a five-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium Friday night.
The Blue Wahoos (19-8 second half, 49-46 overall) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Left fielder T.J. Friedl hit a one-out single and went to second base on a wild pitch by Jacksonville right-hander Robert Dugger (2-4) Third baseman Mitch Nay's groundout moved him to third base, from where he scored on a passed ball by catcher Rodrigo Vigil.
Randy Ready Postgame at Pensacola 7/20/18
Pensacola added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Friedl hit a leadoff single to right field. Nay grounded out to first baseman Eric Jagielo, whose throw to second base went into left field, allowing Friedl to reach third base. With the infield in, second baseman Shed Long hit RBI single that deflected off second baseman Chris Diaz. Dugger completed six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, and he collected his first professional hit with a sixth-inning leadoff single. Right-hander Ryan Newell pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning.
The Blue Wahoos' lead stood while Santillan pitched six scoreless innings, allowing five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He stranded four baserunners - two each in the third and sixth innings. Right-hander Robinson Leyer began the seventh inning and retired all five batters he faced. Left-hander Joel Bender got the final out of the top of the eighth inning.
Long led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a home run to left field off left-hander Miguel Del Pozo to extend the Blue Wahoos lead to 3-0. Right-hander Alex Powers worked around a leadoff error for a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 10th save, clinching the series and fourth straight win for Pensacola, handing Jacksonville (10-18, 38-58) its fifth straight loss.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp continue their series in Pensacola at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, when Jacksonville right-hander Merandy Gonzalez (1-4) is scheduled to face Blue Wahoos right-hander Daniel Wright (4-6). The Jumbo Shrimp return home to face Montgomery on Monday, July 23, at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for VyStar Credit Union Charity Begins at Home with Mission House raising funds through ticket sales and the Launch-A-Ball promotion. VyStar Credit Union members can get a buy-3-get-1 free ticket special by showing their VyStar credit or debit card at the box office. Half-Price Yuengling Monday means 16-oz. Yuengling cans are half-price, and Dollar Dog Night offers $1 hot dogs. For Wear Your Favorite Jersey Night, anyone wearing a jersey will receive $2 off a game day ticket at the box office.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League's Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy, and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.
