PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola halted a late-game comeback from Jacksonville to hold on and best the Jumbo Shrimp, 6-5, Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Vladimir Gutierrez (W 8-8) was excellent again for Pensacola. Gutierrez pitched seven innings and tied a career high of 10 strikeouts and no walks in
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola halted a late-game comeback from Jacksonville to hold on and best the Jumbo Shrimp, 6-5, Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Vladimir Gutierrez (W 8-8) was excellent again for Pensacola. Gutierrez pitched seven innings and tied a career high of 10 strikeouts and no walks in the ballgame. His only blemish of the game came from him throwing a wild pitch that scored Brian Schales to make it 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Gutierrez has now won seven straight decisions for the Wahoos, with a 0.67 ERA in 27 innings pitched.
For the second straight night, the Blue Wahoos flexed their muscle offensively. Aristides Aquino blasted his 11th home run of the season in the second inning, which tied the game at 1-1. The next inning, Jose Siri belted his third home run in two games, a two-run shot to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 lead, and one they would not relinquish.
In the fourth, Aquino stole home on a double steal and Luis Gonzalez scored on a Chris Okey single to stretch the lead to 5-1. Pensacola added an important insurance run in the sixth inning when Taylor Sparks scored from second base on a throwing error by the Shrimp catcher.
The Wahoos entered the top of the eighth inning with a 6-1 lead. Juan Martinez, who relieved starter Gutierrez, allowed two singles from Braxton Lee and Monte Harrison to put runners on first and second base. Eric Jagielo delivered an RBI single to close the gap to 6-2, and Alejandro Chacin (S, 6) was called from the bullpen to replace Martinez. Joe Dunand smashed Chacin's first pitch out to left-center field for a three-run homer to cut the deficit at 6-5.
Chacin worked a scoreless ninth without incident to finish off the Blue Wahoos third straight win.
The Wahoos will look to take the series in Friday night's game. Right-hander Tony Santillan (1-0, 2.25) will start for Pensacola, and RHP Robert Dugger (2-3, 6.06) will get the start for Jacksonville. Friday's game can be found on the radio at 97.1 The Ticket/1490 AM Milton, and www.bluewahoos.com. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos -
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The 2018 season is underway at beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium on Pensacola Bay. Group packages, season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are available for the 2018 season by calling (850) 934-8444 or online. Follow the Blue Wahoos at bluewahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos, and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall
