Mella Allows One Hit in Five Scoreless Innings

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Keury Mella gave up one hit in five scoreless innings of a rain-shortened game, plus the 23-year-old knocked in the only run of the game.

Mella gave up his only walk in the top of the first inning to leadoff hitter Jeremias Pineda. The only hit Mella allowed came in the top of the second inning when Jacksonville first baseman Taylor Ard knocked a single to left field to leadoff the inning. Ard was also the only Jumbo Shrimp batter to reach second base.
Mella, who is in his first season in Double-A, then retired the next 11 of 12 batters he faced. He improved to 2-4 with a 4.35 ERA.
Plus, Mella, who is ranked the 19th best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, hit a first pitch ground ball that deflected off the third baseman and continued into left field. The two-out single drove in Pensacola catcher Adrian Nieto for a 1-0 lead.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel led the Blue Wahoos lineup going 3-3 with a double. Goeddel's three hits were half of Pensacola's six total hits.
Pensacola center fielder Gabriel Guerrero also earned a hit, going 1-3, and second baseman Alex Blandino got the other hit for the Blue Wahoos, hitting 1-2 with a walk.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 39-27 and can clinch the Southern League South Division crown with a win in Friday's scheduled doubleheader or with a loss by the Biloxi Shuckers. Pensacola is vying to join the Tennessee Smokies, who won four consecutive halves from 2009 to 2011.
Pensacola and Jacksonville will try again Friday to play a seven-inning doubleheader to make up for the rain out of the second game Thursday.
Tickets to the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game are on sale now! Purchase tickets online at bluewahoos.com or visiting the Box Office. Orders can also be placed over the phone by calling 850-934-8444. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Southern League. Follow the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos andtwitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
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