Duran Makes 2015 Pensacola Debut

PENSACOLA, Fla., - The Pensacola Blue Wahoos welcomed a new slugger to its lineup Wednesday-right fielder Juan Duran.

Duran, who is Pensacola's single-season home run holder with 17 last season, hit a bullet for a single to centerfield in the fourth inning to drive in Blue Wahoos left fielder Jesse Winker. He went 2-3 on the night, walked and scored. He also knocked a two-out double off the right field wall in the ninth.

The Jacksonville Suns, though, took the lead for the Golden Skillet trophy beating Pensacola, 6-2, in front of 4,649 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The trophy goes annually to the series winner, which Jacksonville now leads, 6-5.

Duran said his wrist felt fine after returning from injury rehab with the Arizona League Reds. There, the outfielder went 9-23 and hit .391 with two home runs and nine RBIs in seven games.

"I felt great," he said. "Nothing was hurting. I just do my best every time I play."

Pensacola manager Pat Kelly was happy to see Duran's bat in the middle of the lineup, after he hit .243 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs in 2014.

"Every time he steps to the plate you stop to watch because he has a chance to hit it out of the ballpark," Kelly said. "We haven't had that in the middle of the lineup all year."

Wandy Peralta entered the game 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA against the Suns, even throwing six scoreless innings May 15 against the team. However, Jacksonville scored five runs in the first inning off the southpaw on four singles and a triple by Suns right fielder Carlos Lopez, who has now gotten a hit in 24 of his last 27 games.

Kelly said a few ball and strike calls hurt Peralta's focus.

"He had the ball up and didn't get a couple of calls from the umpire which irritated him," Kelly said.

The Pensacola bullpen came in and shut down the Jacksonville offensive burst. Jacob Johnson threw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out three.

Zack Weiss came in in the ninth Wednesday and struck out two Suns. He has now faced 20 batters in his last five games and struck out 11.

"Johnson really saved our bullpen," Kelly said. "That was huge."

Kelly also liked what he saw in Weiss, who retired the Suns 1-2-3. He has now thrown seven scoreless innings in his last five relief appearances.

"That's what we anticipated when he first got here," Kelly said. "He has straightened things out.

WUERFFEL TROPHY Deterrian Shackelford, a former starting inside linebacker for the Mississippi Rebels, was honored Wednesday for winning the 2014 Wuerffel Trophy at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Danny Wuerffel himself, who was born in Pensacola, was at the game as well to throw out a first pitch alongside Shackelford.

Shackelford has two degrees from the University of Mississippi, a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in higher education, and has continued taking graduate classes this fall. He plans to earn his doctorate and become a college athletic director, saying he admires current Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork.

"He treats everybody the same from the janitor to the coach," Shackelford said. "He's taught me what it's like to be personable. I want to make an impact without my pads on."

Some would say that Shackelford has already made an impact. The Decatur, Ala., native has helped lead two mission trips to Haiti and Panama, while also mentoring local youth. He has been actively involved in the Oxford, Miss., community, helping lead efforts to fight hunger and raise funds for cancer research. He is also a highly sought after speaker for school, community and church groups. The Rebels' starter is a five-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, a two-time semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team and the first ever two-time recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award.

Although he went undrafted in the NFL in 2015, Shackelford helped Ole Miss lead the nation in scoring defense, as the Rebels allowed just 13.8 points per game to opposing teams. He came back to play for Ole Miss despite losing both the 2011 and 2012 seasons to a torn ACL that required two separate surgeries.

The All Sports Association presents the Wuerffel Trophy to the Football Bowl Subdivision football player who best exhibits exemplary community service. This is the 10th anniversary of the Wuerffel Trophy, an award named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries, in New Orleans and around the country.

GAME NOTES

The second game of the three-game series is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. Thursday with the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns.

Head down to Seville Quarter, park for free, enjoy drink specials and $5 appetizers, and then ride the free Wahoo Choo Choo tram to the stadium. Once at the game, continue to enjoy the drink specials in the park on Thirsty Thursday.

Put on your best pair of boots and head on down to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for Country Western Night.

The games are broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station NewsRadio1620 (WNRP-AM). 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 Jesse Winker is hitting .455 during his current six-game hitting streak, including four multi-hit games…Duran went 2-3 on the night, walked, scored, knocked in a run and hit a two-out double off the bottom of the right field wall...Long relief pitcher Jacob Johnson threw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out three…Closer Zack Weiss has now thrown seven scoreless innings in his last five relief outings and struck out 11 of the 20 batters he has faced.

ROSTER MOVES Juan Duran is activated off the disabled list and making his 2015 debut with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Cincinnati Reds announced. Meanwhile, catcher Cam Maron is going on the disabled list.

The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jacksonville Suns July 1-3. Come experience the family-fun entertainment as we have fireworks on both Wednesday and Friday this week! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.

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