Well-Traveled Reliever Gives Blue Wahoos Boost in 2-1 Win

Anthony Vizcaya pointed up at the sky, his face flushed with joy, the significance all the greater.
After pitching the past four years in five different countries, seemingly far removed from a Major League Baseball affiliate, Vizcaya continued his remarkable rise Friday night, getting the save in his Pensacola Blue Wahoos debut and 2-1 victory against the Mississippi Braves.
Only a year ago, he was several continents away, pitching for an obscure Japan Independent League team.
In reaching a Double-A level for the first time Friday, Vizcaya carried over his closer perfection from Advanced-A Fort Myers to record his eighth save this season in eight opportunities.
"I was really emotional, said Vizcaya, 25, a Venezuela native, his words translated by Blue Wahoos' bilingual manager Ramon Borrego. "After going through everything, being out of pro baseball and then getting this opportunity, all my hard work has paid off."
Vizcaya entered in the eighth inning of a one-run game and kept it that way. He had three strikeouts, no walks and yielded a two-out hit in each inning, but retired the next batter.
The Blue Wahoos win evened the series (2-2) against the M-Braves, heading into Saturday night's (6:05 p.m.) series finale. It also kept the Blue Wahoos (32-22) in first place, 1.5 games ahead of the Biloxi Shuckers.
With a sellout crowd (5,038), cheering and clapping in anticipation of a winning end, Vizcaya got the final hitter to ground out.
"I love those kind situations, especially when you have a lot of fans here cheering. And they get me pumped up. I was so happy to see that. I was giving thanks to God. I just thank God for this opportunity."
The opportunity occurred when Minnesota Twins scouts saw Vizcaya pitch in a winter league in Colombia. His previous stops included Spain, Venezuela, then Japan.
All of this followed being released before the 2015 season by the Cleveland Indians. That's when his world travels ensued.
"I appreciate all my family support through four years and being around the world and trying to find a way back to pro ball," Vizcaya said. "It feels good and now I am trying to do my best."
The Blue Wahoos took an early lead against M-Braves starter Ian Anderson, the No. 3-rated prospect by MLB Pipeline in the Atlanta Braves organization.
Mark Contreras led off the third inning with a home run over the left field fence. The Blue Wahoos got their other run in the fourth inning when Twins catcher Mitch Garver, who has been in Pensacola on an injury rehab assignment, led off with a single and later scored on Jimmy Kerrigan's single.
Blue Wahoos starter Andro Cutura had his best outing, working four scoreless innings, allowing one walk, two hits and four strikeouts.
The M-Braves got a run in the fifth and it stayed that way through the end.
Borrego, who is also a Venezuela native, helped convince the Twins to take the chance on Vizcaya and they signed him to a minor league contract on Jan. 20. He appeared in 15 games for the Fort Myers Miracle, sporting a 1-1 record and the seven saves.
"For me, every moment is special," Borrego said. "When we bring somebody from High-A, that's special. This guy has been bouncing around for four years and nobody gave him a chance. So it's special."
Vizcaya's arrival Friday occurred as reliever Ryan Mason was placed on the injured list.
"We have a lot of people around the world. Those guys, basically their job is to try and find players," Borrego said. "All the time, you need arms. You need somebody who can give you some depth."
The Blue Wahoos were held to five hits in the game. Two of those belonged to Travis Blankenhorn, who went 2-for-4.
BALLPARK MEMORIES

• Even with the massive Fiesta of Five Flags parade downtown, the Blue Wahoos attracted a capacity crowd.
• One lure, aside from the weather, was game sponsor Florida Blue provided Blue Wahoos Beach Towels to the first 2,000 ticket holders on Giveaway Friday. It is the team's most popular giveaway item all season.
• The game was also part of Women In Baseball Day. In the Blue Wahoos front office, women are half of the team's total staff, led by assistant vice president Donna Kirby and chief financial officer Amber McClure, both of whom have won Southern League awards for their service.
• The Fort Walton Beach Yankees, a 9-10 year-old team and winners Thursday of their local youth league baseball league, were honored with as the "Field of Dreams" teams and were able to join the Blue Wahoos players in the pregame introductions.