PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Blue Wahoos could not get the win in their final game against the Smokies despite a late comeback as Tennessee bested Pensacola, 11-6, to claim the series.Pensacola trailed 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth. A Nick Longhi two-run base hit cut the Wahoos deficit to
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Blue Wahoos could not get the win in their final game against the Smokies despite a late comeback as Tennessee bested Pensacola, 11-6, to claim the series.
Pensacola trailed 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth. A Nick Longhi two-run base hit cut the Wahoos deficit to 9-6. Gavin LaValley came to the plate with only one out in the inning. LaValley hit a line drive that could have cut the deficit to one, but third basemen Jesse Hodges caught LaValley's ball, then dove back to the bag to double off Shed Long and end the threat.
Hodges and Zack Short each hit solo home runs in the top of the ninth to increase the Smokies lead to 11-6.
The Blue Wahoos got off to a fast start in the game with four runs over the first two innings. C.J. McElroy, Longhi and LaValley combined to go 6-for-6 in the first and second innings helping the Wahoos to the early advantage. Pensacola starter Wyatt Strahan battled through four-plus innings but was charged with six runs (five earned) in the losing effort. He allowed just one earned run over his first 3.2 innings, but surrendered hits to seven of the last eight batters he faced before getting lifted with two on and nobody out in the fifth.
Carlos Navas, Jesús Reyes, and Juan Martinez combined to allow five runs out of the Pensacola bullpen. Offensively, Longhi and LaValley led the way with three hits each in the losing effort.
Preston Morrison earned the win in relief for the Smokies with a pair of scoreless innings.
The Wahoos will head to Jacksonville to face off against the Jumbo Shrimp for five games. Pensacola will turn to right-hander Daniel Wright (2-2, 4.59) against Shrimp right-hander Nick Neidert (4-3, 3.11). Coverage of Tuesday'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 6:05 p.m. Central Time.
- 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
