Sellout Crowd Marvels At Blue Wahoos Pitching In Specialty-Theme Night Win 

His adrenalin and emotions were still racing from closing out another win, when Colton Hock was urged by teammates to remain on the field.

“They were yelling, ‘Stay down here.’ And I’m like, why?” said Hock, laughing, after producing more clutch, ninth-inning relief, to preserve the Blue Wahoos 2-1 win Saturday night against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Well, here’s why: his wife Madison surprised him by driving down from Knoxville, Tennessee, where the couple have a home. Moments after recording the final out, stranding the Lookouts tying run on third base, Hock realized she was nearby.

“I had no idea and then I saw her,” said Hock, who gave up a one-double in the ninth, then made big pitches with his fastball to seal the win and gain his ninth save.. “And it’s crazy just coming out of the game, because everything is high energy… I just won it and it was nerve wracking out there.

“But when I saw (Madison) I thought, wow, that is just what I needed to calm down a little bit.”

For a game controlled by pitching and defense, a lot still happened at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

First off, the weather was finally spectacular after four prior days of rain delays and constant weather threats. And the game sped through completion in just two hours, 34 minutes, leading into the traditional Saturday post-game fireworks show. Covenant Care, a long-time Blue Wahoos partner, sponsored Saturday's fireworks.

The win became No. 100 for Blue Wahoos manager Kevin Randel, who is just past midpoint of his second season in Pensacola. The fourth victory this week against Chattanooga also clinched the first series win for the Blue Wahoos since June 14-19 when they took five of six games from the Tennessee Smokies.

An overflow sellout crowd (5,000-plus) gathered on a specialty-themed, “Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night” which included Captain America and other Marvel Entertainment costumed characters, along with the Blue Wahoos wearing red/white/blue Captain American jerseys, which were auctioned during the game.

Many of the kids in attendance added to the night by wearing their own favorite costumes.

“These jerseys, the kids love them and I think the fans got into it,” Hock said. “It’s a fun, fan experience here and (kids) feel good and that’s all I really care about.”

The game began with Miami Marlins pitcher Edward Cabera, who spent part of the 2021 season pitching for the Blue Wahoos, working the first three innings on an injury rehab assignment as he heals from tendonitis in his right elbow.

Pitching in a game for the first time since June 12, which was his last Marlins start, Cabrera looked like the guy who shined in starts last year for the Blue Wahoos. He pitched three perfect innings, throwing just 31 pitches – 21 for strikes – and allowed no walks, struck out one and retired five of the nine batters he faced on ground ball outs.

“That’s exciting when you know you have (Cabrera) starting,” Hock said. “I’ve played with him since I was drafted (4th round, 2017),” Hock said. “I came up with (Cabrera) in the New York-Penn League, then Low-A, High-A, here and in Jacksonville (Triple-A),” Hock said. “I have gotten to see him throw a lot.

“The thing with him now is that he is just so in control, whereas before he was real quick and trying to blow it by you. Now, you can tell he has really figured out how to pitch in terms of spotting his the pitches and how to use them. Every time I see him, it gets better”

Cody Mincey followed Cabrera and showcased another superb outing to earn his fifth win. Mincey, who was undrafted out of college at South Carolina, worked 4.2 innings, allowed four hits, a run, struck out six and walked only two.

Both of those walks occurred in the eighth inning. Hock was summoned with two outs, walked the next batter to load the bases, but ended the threat on a flyout.

“Mincey is like the most ideal starter you can have,” Hock said. “He is steady Eddie and he’s going to give you five or six good innings.”

The pivotal inning was the sixth. After Mincey allowed a leadoff single by Michael De Leon, followed by a run-scoring double from Ivan Johnson, he faced a situation with runners on second and third and one out.

He made big pitches to get a short fly out – not deep enough to score a run – then struck out the Lookouts’ No. 3 hitter T.J. Hopkins with a wicked off-speed, breaking ball.

“(Lookouts) scored one run and he limited them to that,” Hock said. “And that was the difference in the game right there.”

In the ninth,

The Blue Wahoos got their first run in the second inning on Jose Devers' two-out, RBI single to score Bubba Hollins, who walked.and moved to second when catcher Jan Merdardo was hit by a pitch

Victor Victor Mesa supplied the second run on his leadoff homer over the left field wall in the sixth inning. The Blue Wahoos then missed opportunities when loading the bases with none out in the sixth and failing to score, then loading the bases with one out in the eighth with the same result.

GAME NOTABLES

--- Marvel Entertainment was the sponsor of the jerseys and game experience. The jerseys were auctioned at the top of the sixth inning in a live auction on the stadium concourse behind home plate.

-- Captain America traveled to Pensacola as an official Marvel comic and movie character.

--- Two youth baseball teams traveled a distance to attend Saturday’s game. The Saraland 5-Under All-Stars traveled from Mobile and the Holmes County 7-8 Dixie Youth state championship team from Bonifay were recognized on the field and ran out with the Blue Wahoos starters to their positions before the National Anthem.

--- The National Anthem was performed by Anne Smerekanicz.

--- Blue Wahoos pitcher Eury Perez was in Los Angeles on Saturday night, representing the Miami Marlins in the 2022 Sirius XM Futures Game at Dodger Stadium. Perez pitched a scoreless second inning for the National League Futures Stars in the game, facing three batters, throwing 10 pitches, seven of those for strikes and recording a strikeout.

--- Former Blue Wahoos pitcher Max Meyer, who spent the 2021 season in Pensacola, made his Major League debut Saturday in Miami. He worked five innings in the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, gave up five runs on a pair of home runs in the Marlins loss.

BLUE WAHOOS HOMESTAND FINALE

WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

TICKETS: Available online at www.bluewahoos.com/tickets. Or purchase at stadium box office at Noon on Sunday), or call 850-934-8444.

RADIO: ESPN-Pensacola (99.1 FM and 1330 AM and WYCT 98.7 HD4).

TV: YurView (check provider) and MILB.tv (streaming) through www.milb.com/live-stream-games with subscription discount using BLUE WAHOOS.

PROMOTION: Family Sunday. Early-arriving fans will receive a Blue Wahoos team photo courtesy of Dlux Printing. Following game, kids may run an infield lap around the bases and family toss in the outfield will happen for 30 minutes.