Lutz Rips Game-Winning Single for Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla., - Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Donald Lutz made up for his slow start to the 2016 season.

He was the hero in the Blue Wahoos sold out season opener at home Tuesday when he slapped a screaming groundball to right field in the fifth inning to score two runners and give Pensacola a 4-3 victory over the visiting Jacksonville Suns at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Lutz said it was comforting playing in front of the Blue Wahoos fifth straight season opening sellout crowd. He went 0-15 with nine strikeouts, including striking out five times in five at bats Monday against the Mississippi Braves the day before. But against the Suns, Lutz got some extra work in the batting cage before the game.

"It's baseball," Lutz said. "I'm a big believer that it doesn't matter if you get angry and throw stuff. You can't get too high or too low."

He enjoyed breaking out of his slump with two singles in three at bats and the game-winning hit. "When you take the lead it gives you a little phhhh (relief). It loosens you up a little bit."

The Wahoos came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth off of Esch and chased him from the game.

Lutz had the big hit when his two-out single scored both Amaral and Vincej to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-2. Pin-Chieh Chen got the rally started with a lead-off walk and then scored the first run of the inning to tie the game, 2-2, when with the bases loaded Esch hit left fielder Phillip Ervin with a pitch.

Pensacola improved its record to 5-1 to remain atop the Southern League South Division.

Kelly said this game was a test to see how good the Wahoos are. Jacksonville entered the game with a 4-1 record, too.

"Playing another 4-1 club was a good challenge," Kelly said. "I wanted to see how we would rise to the occasion."

The game also featured the right field lights going out in the third inning. They never came back on. However, the umpires decided to continue the game when both team's right fielders said they could still see the ball.

Jacksonville did get a run back in the sixth when second baseman Avery Romero singled to center field to score third baseman J.T. Riddle from second base.

The Suns loaded the bases in the eighth inning off Pensacola reliever Alejandro Chacin. But with one out, he struck out the final two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.

"Those were tremendous," Kelly said. "That's why we love this kid. He's not afraid. If you're going to pitch late in the game you can't have any fear."

The Blue Wahoos wasted little time to score the first run of the game, when center fielder Beau Amaral led off the first inning by pulling the ball over the right field wall into the Hill Kelly Hill area. Amaral went 2-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run.

Jacksonville shortstop Peter Mooney doubled to lead off the third inning, moved to third on a bunt single by pitcher Esch and scored on a fielder's choice by center fielder Yefri Perez to tie the game, 1-1.

GAME NOTES

Pensacola hosts the second game of a five-game series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns. Pitching for the Suns is RHP Austin Brice (0-0, 0.00) against Blue Wahoos RHP Sal Romano (0-0, 3.38).

The games are broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station 97.1 The Ticket. 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 Donald Lutz went 2-3 with two singles to break an 0-15 slump to start the season and drove in the two winning runs. Beau Amaral popped his first homer of the season over the right field wall, going 2-4 with two runs scored.

ADMIRAL FETTERMAN FIELD Before the home-opener, Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer honored former Vice Adm. John H. "Jack" Fetterman Jr. by naming the field after him.

Accepting flowers, a Pensacola jersey with the No. 1 on the back and a copy of a plaque about Fetterman's leadership was Nancy Fetterman, Jack's widow, and their family. The plaque will hang up near the entrance where fans can read it.

Studer and Fetterman met after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and talked about putting a baseball park and maritime museum on the current Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park. After hearing Studer's pitch, Jack said: "I'm all in."

Studer told the sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium that Jack "served his country and then came back and served his community. This is not possible without Jack Fetterman."

A choked up Nancy said: "We are so honored by it. Jack would be so delighted…and so impressed with Quint's success. It's just amazing. He would have said, 'Quint, well done Bravo Zulu.'"

Celebrate five seasons of baseball in 2016! Blue Wahoos season tickets, mini plan packages and single game tickets are available for purchase at Hill-Kelly Dodge Pick-Up Window and by calling (850) 934-8444. Follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.

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