Pensacola Overcomes Four-Run Deficit
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Three Pensacola Blue Wahoos smacked home runs and the club won its second straight game over the Birmingham Barons Saturday.
Blue Wahoos center fielder Bryson Smith doubled with two outs in the eighth inning to score Pensacola speedster Beau Amaral from third with the winning run, 8-7, in front of its 20th sellout of the year at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was Pensacola's seventh win in the last nine games and the Blue Wahoos remained a half-game back of Southern League South Division second half leader the Mobile BayBears at 25-17 (49-60). Mobile is 25-16 in the second half.
Pensacola came back to defeat the Barons after trailing, 5-1, in the third inning. Blue Wahoos shortstop Alex Blandino smashed a three-run homer to left field in the bottom of the third inning to bring Pensacola within one run, 5-4. Both catcher Yovan Gonzalez and Bryson Smith scored on Blandino's second homer for the Blue Wahoos since joining the club Aug. 3.
Pensacola also got a monstrous solo blast from third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean in the second inning, which was his sixth of the year to have a team-leading 42 RBIs. Gonzalez, who now has a four-game hit streak, hit his third homer of the year when he smashed a two-run blast in the fourth inning.
The Blue Wahoos have led the Southern League since July 1 with 117 extra base hits.
Coming back from four runs down is something the Blue Wahoos have rarely done this season, said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. Kelly credits the addition of right fielder Juan Duran's bat to the lineup July 1 after he completed injury rehab.
"He really lengthens our lineup," Kelly said. "Everyone is in a position now where they are very comfortable."
Kelly said he was most impressed with Blandino's homer to left. "That was a big blow right there," he said.
He also complimented Gonzalez, the backup catcher for the Wahoos, who was 1-2 with two walks Saturday and scored two runs.
"He's swinging a great bat the last four or five games," Kelly said. "He's done it in limited play. He's in a tough role. It's nice to see that production."
Gonzalez's two-run homer in the fourth brought the Blue Wahoos within, 7-6. Buckley then scored on a Ryan Wright sacrifice fly to right to tie the game, 7-7, in the sixth inning.
Birmingham went up 7-4 when third baseman Nicky Delmonico, who had a home run and three RBIs, singled in shortstop Tim Anderson, who hit a leadoff double in the fourth inning. Delmonico then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by designated hitter Danny Hayes.
Anderson, the Chicago White Sox top prospect, went 2-4 with a double, scored three times and stole three bases for a Southern League-leading 44 steals on the year.
"He is such a threat," Kelly said. "Plus, he plays great at shortstop."
GAME NOTES
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the third game of a five-game series at 5:05 p.m. Sunday against the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate the Birmingham Barons. A pitcher to be named is scheduled to take the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Barons RHP Mark Blackmar (5-5, 3.48).
Fans can receive 50 percent off online orders from Papa John's by using promo code Wahoos on Sunday.
ASN selected the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Sunday game as one of 15 it will air live - which is WFGX in Pensacola. Click here to find out what channel it is in your area. The Blue Wahoos want to #PinkOutPensacola during the national broadcast, so the first 4,000 fans will receive a free pink Blue Wahoos T-shirt from Visit Pensacola.
Bark in the Park is presented by Pedigree. You and your furry dog can watch the game from the berm on Sunday. Fans will receive Pedigree Dentastix samples as they leave the park.
The first 500 fans at the Kia Autosport Main Entrance will receive a Blue Wahoos piggy bank courtesy of Pen Air Federal Credit Union.
Keep cool on Sunday afternoons with Pensacola State College's fan giveaway.
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 Left fielder Jesse Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect, has a hit in seven of his last eight games and is now batting .357 (10-28) in August…Shortstop Alex Blandino went 1-5 with a three-run blast in the third inning…Catcher Yovan Gonzalez was 1-2, with two walks home run, two RBIs and two runs scored…Bryson Smith went 3-5, knocking in the game winner when his double scored Amaral in the eighth inning…Reliever Zack Weiss appeared in his second straight save opportunity against Birmingham and has now struck out the side twice and saved a team-leading 17th games.
The Blue Wahoos return home Friday to begin a five-game series against the Birmingham Barons. Come experience the family-fun entertainment, which includes fireworks Saturday night! Sunday's game will be on national television on the American Sports Network. You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
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