Eder Dazzles in Pro Debut, Wahoos Dominate Doubleheader
The story of the season for Pensacola has been dominant starting pitching. One day after Max Meyer tossed five innings of one-hit ball, Jake Eder (1-0) upstaged his roommate by also throwing five scoreless frames while striking out 12 in Pensacola’s 5-1 victory in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader at
The story of the season for Pensacola has been dominant starting pitching. One day after Max Meyer tossed five innings of one-hit ball, Jake Eder (1-0) upstaged his roommate by also throwing five scoreless frames while striking out 12 in Pensacola’s 5-1 victory in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader at Trustmark Park.
After striking out leadoff hitter Justin Dean to start the game, Braden Shewmake struck out swinging, but reached first base via the drop-third strike rule. After a walk to Trey Harris, Eder then struck out Shea Leangeliers and C.J. Alexander, giving the former Vanderbilt standout a rare four-strikeout inning.
In the early going, Eder was matched by M-Braves starter Nolan Kingham (L, 0-1). Through four innings, both pitchers and yet to allow a run while combining for 16 strikeouts (Eder with 10).
Important statistic:
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) May 6, 2021
Jake Eder has a career 36.0 K/9 ratio in his Minor League career. pic.twitter.com/rsCWdIV3sx
The Wahoos offense finally came to life in the fifth inning. After a single by Victor Victor Mesa, and a walk to JJ Bleday, Jerar Encarnacion delivered a two-run single to put Pensacola ahead. The next batter was Peyton Burdick—who had yet to record a hit in 2021—unloaded a two-ruin homer to put Pensacola up 4-0.
Burdick 💣 pic.twitter.com/RsgCVF27Go
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) May 7, 2021
Eder had a no-hitter through 4.1 innings until Dean’s to left. However, Dean would strike out Shewmake and induce Harris into a foul flyout to left to end the inning. Eder exited the game with 12 strikeouts and 88 pitches thrown.
Tanner Andrews made his debut for the Wahoos and closed out the final two innings of Game 1, with his only blemish being a solo home run from Grey Jenista in seventh.
In the second game of the twin-bill, Jose Mesa Jr. opened for Pensacola and tossed three hitless innings for Wahoos. Zach Wolf and Tyler Stevens (W, 1-0) combined to pitch four shutout innings in relief and half the M-Braves to a total of two hits.
Pensacola’s offense clicked in the fourth when they sent 11-men to the plate and scored six times. Bleday, Encarnacion, Burdick and Lazaro Alonso all had consecutive-base hits, and every Wahoos starter finished the game have reached base safely at least once.
Mitch Stallings (0-1) had been causing through three but couldn’t maintain his form in the fourth, failing to retire any of the five batters he faced in the inning.
Pensacola and Mississippi continue with their season-opening series on Friday with Game 4. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.