Pensacola Gains Ground on First Place Biloxi

PENSACOLA, Fla., - Kyle Parker found himself without a team when the Colorado Rockies released him on April 2. They didn't want their first pick in the 2010 draft anymore.

But the Cincinnati Reds signed him April 25 and sent him to its Double-A affiliate the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

In his second start, Parker hit two two-out singles to drive in a run each time and help his new team beat Biloxi, 5-0, in front of 4,414 Sunday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Parker, a first round draft pick in 2010 who has 64 games of big league experience in the last two years, said he was taken off guard by getting released.

"It caught me by surprise," said Parker, who played quarterback for Clemson. "I knew somebody would give me a chance. I still have confidence in my abilities."

Parker. playing right field. got his first hit, first RBI, first extra-base hit and first run scored on Sunday. He went 3-4 against Biloxi, after starting off the season 0-4.

Manager Pat Kelly likes Parker's flexibility to play in the outfield and at first base. He knew of Parker because his son played with him in football camps.

"What a great addition," Kelly said of Parker. "He's a great athlete. He gives us another right-handed hitter in the middle of the line up, so we don't have to bat (Phillip) Ervin fourth, we can move him up."

The Blue Wahoos gained three games on Biloxi by winning the five game series, 4-1. The two teams that are vying for first place in the Southern League South are now 5-5 against each other this season. Pensacola is 18-12, while Biloxi is 18-11.

"It's May we're not competing in a pennant race yet," Kelly said. "We're going out to win every series. We wanted to gain ground on them and we've done that."

Pensacola also got another good outing from southpaw prospect Amir Garrett, who pitched his third scoreless game in six starts. Garrett didn't have his best stuff but worked six scoreless innings, giving up four hits, five walks and striking out six. The 6-foot-5 lefty is now 3-2 with a 1.26 earned-run average.

He also got help from the Pensacola relievers Matt Magill and Alejandro Chacin, who blanked Biloxi over the final three innings to help the Blue Wahoos record its third shutout of the season. Chacin earned his team-leading fifth save and has yet to allow a run in 11 appearances and 13 innings pitched.

The Pensacola pitching staff leads the Southern League with a 2.69 ERA, which is more than a half run better than the Mississippi Braves at 3.21.

Parker drove in his first two-out run when he hit a soft blooper to right field on a hit-and-run play that scored Pensacola left fielder Phillip Ervin in the first inning for a 1-0 Pensacola lead. Parker got his second two-out RBI when he hit a hard liner to left field that scored Blue Wahoos center fielder Beau Amaral that put Pensacola up, 4-0.

In the third inning, Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon clobbered a two-out, two-run homer to left that made it into the Pensacola Bay. His blast brought home Ervin and gave the Blue Wahoos a, 3-0 lead.

It was the Blue Wahoos sixth homer in its last eight games. Pensacola has smashed 13 homers since April 21.

Ervin, who scored two runs Sunday and singled in four at bats is now second in the Southern League in runs scored with 22, which is two behind the leader. Ervin has crossed the plate 13 times in his last 10 games.

GAME NOTES

Pensacola travels to play the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate the Chattanooga Lookouts for a five-game series that begins at 6:15 p.m. Monday. Pitching for the Lookouts is TBA, who is going against Blue Wahoos RHP Sal Romano (1-1, 3.86).

Because the Blue Wahoos scored five runs, Pensacola fans can get 50 percent off of online pizza orders from Papa John's using the promo code WAHOOS.

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 Second baseman Brandon Dixon went 2-3 with a two-run home run and double for three RBIs…Right fielder Kyle Parker went 3-4 with a double, run scored and two RBIs…Center fielder Beau Amaral was 1-3 with a triple and run scored…Pensacola closer Alejandro Chacin has not allowed a run in 13 innings, which is second to former Blue Wahoos pitcher Daniel Wright who had a 15.2 inning scoreless streak.

ICE FLYERS HONORED The Pensacola Ice Flyers visited Blue Wahoos Stadium and earned applause from baseball fans as it lifted its trophy for winning its third Southern Professional Hockey League championship in four years.

 A split second before the end of regulation Josh Cousineau slapped the shot in for a, 5-4, victory over the Peoria Rivermen with a goal in a split second before Thursday's game ended at The Hangar. Ice Flyers fans went wild over the win.

In honor of the flyers, both Cousineau and Flyers captain Adam Pawlick threw out first pitches at the Blue Wahoos' final game against Biloxi Sunday.

The hockey players all wore their official jerseys and took a team picture. Blue Wahoos first baseman Donald Lutz, who played amateur hockey, snuck into one of the shots for the media. They also watched replays of the goals in the championship game.

Cousineau said he never gets tired of watching his game-winning goal for the SPHL title. "That was pretty good, a special moment," he said. "I was in the right spot at the right time."

Pawlick said the team plays all out for 60 minutes of every game. The Ice Flyers were 31-20-5 during the regular season and then won all seven playoff games it played.

"We play as hard as we can," he said. "You give everything you got."

Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff pointed out that Pensacola has become a welcoming place to play both hockey and baseball.

"It's been a lot of fun," he told the crowd. "We have a lot of fans here tonight. They support both teams. Pensacola has great fans."

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are on the road this week but return home Saturday, May 14 to take on the Mississippi Braves! Blue Wahoos 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.

--www.bluewahoos.com--