Fitterer Produces His Best Start As Blue Wahoos Win Fourth Straight

Pensacola, Fla. - Evan Fitterer had grinded through his first three starts this season.

Friday night, he shined.

After breezing through the first three innings without allowing a baserunner, Fitterer pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth and it proved pivotal in leading the Blue Wahoos to a 4-1 win Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers, giving Pensacola a fourth straight victory and series-clinching outcome.

In a game played with the strongest winds this season – blowing in from right field off the bay at 15 mph – it breezed to completion in 2 hours, 26 minutes before a capacity crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It was a Giveaway Friday with the first 1,000 fans receiving a clear Blue Wahoos tote bag courtesy of CPC Office Technologies.

“I feel like the confidence is up with everyone,” Fitterer said afterward. “Everyone is playing a little better and building off each other.”

It was Fitterer’s first win after two no decisions and a loss. Friday’s outing, a one-hitter in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts, no runs, reminded of many quality performances last season when he made 23 starts for the Blue Wahoos.

“It’s really good to get your first win of the year. It felt pretty good,” said Fitterer, 23, a Mission Viejo, California native. “I felt like I was locating the fastball pretty well. Throwing the changeup over the plate for the most part.

“I was working on the curve ball earlier in the week with the pitching coaches. I made some changes to that. I was little inconsistent there, but I’m really excited once I dialed that (pitch) in.”

The best curve ball he threw occurred in perhaps the biggest moment of the game. The Shuckers loaded the bases when Fitterer walked one batter and plunked shortstop Freddy Zamora – one of three times Zamora was hit by a pitch from two different Blue Wahoos hurlers.

“My confidence was still there,” Fitterer said. “Because to me, they had not shown they could still get to me yet. Bases loaded, or nobody on, I felt they still have to beat me, so I felt really good.”

It showed when Fitterer struck out Justin Dirden with a curveball and the Blue Wahoos carried a 4-0 lead into the ninth inning.

“That was one of the ones I threw right,” said Fitterer, a fifth-round pick by the Miami Marlins out of high school in 2019. “I’m like, I want to do that more often. That’s the one.

“I know I sprayed a few (other curve balls). I hit someone (Zamora) with it. If I get more consistent (with that pitch) I’d feel really confident.”

The Blue Wahoos (10-9), who climbed above .500 for the first time since April 13, took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Shane Sasacki reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second base. Sasaki had two hits in the game, scored three runs and had two stolen bases.

Harrison Spohn singled home Sasaki for the first run. Sasaki then scored in the fourth inning when Cody Morissette followed with a two out double.

In the sixth inning, Jacob Berry singled and scored on Sasaki’s double. Morissette’s second RBI single scored the fourth run.

In the ninth, Blue Wahoos closer Austin Roberts pitched out of a jam after the first two Shuckers batters reached on a hit by pitch and walk. But he struck out the final two batters after a balk plated a run to end the game with runners in scoring position.

GAME NOTABLES

--- A couple Blue Wahoos players, along with Colleen Mitchell, the Miami Marlins manager of education and player care, spent Friday morning tossing mullet fish in the 40th annual Flora-Bama Mullet Toss on the beach in front of the iconic Flora-Bama Lounge located on the state line between Perdido Key and Orange Beach, Ala.

While catcher Bennett Hostetler and shortstop Harrison Spohn both threw a mullet fish over 115 feet, broadcaster/media relations director Erik Bremer took his chance to throw a mullet 129 feet.

--- The Blue Wahoos are now 109-99 in their all-time series against Biloxi, their closest geographic rival in the Southern League. The teams will meet 24 times this season.

WANT TO GO?

WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

PROMOTION: Fireworks Saturday. Post-game fireworks will occur following the game, provided by Kia Autosport-Pensacola.

TICKETS: Available at www.bluewahoos.com and the Blue Wahoos box office which will open at 2 p.m. Saturday.

AUDIO BROADCAST: Available on www.bluewahoos.com or the MiLB app.

LIVE TV: The game will air on BLAB-TV in a new partnership with Bally Live and the Blue Wahoos Baseball Network for Friday and Saturday home games to be televised.