Wahoos Pick Up 5-2 Road Win In Biloxi

After they regathered from a scary injury to starting pitcher Delvin Smeltzer, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos settled back to keep a lead and defeat the Biloxi Shuckers 5-2 Wednesday at MGM Park in Biloxi.
The win was overshadowed amid a crowd of 1,703 with concern for Smeltzer. He was struck in the back of his head by a line drive from leadoff batter Max McDowell in the fifth inning. Smeltzer was able to leave the game on his own.
Earlier this week, Smeltzer was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week for a pair of scoreless outings in consecutive starts. Thursday, he gave up first two runs of the season in the second inning, though one was unearned.
Smeltzer, whose inspirational story on overcoming cancer as a youth leads his background, yielded four hits, had four strikeouts and allowed an earned run in his no-decision.
Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos (9-4) forced Biloxi (6-7) into using five pitchers, including two in the first inning. They collected nine hits and four walks in the game.
As they've often done since the season began two weeks ago, the Blue Wahoos grabbed an early lead and held it.
With one out in the first inning, Jordan Gore singled. Tanner English was hit by a pitch. With two out, Caleb Hamilton walked to load the bases. Jimmy Kerrigan then followed with a run-scoring walk.
At that point, after throwing 35 pitches, the Shuckers lifted starting pitcher Nattino Diplan. Reliever Braden Webb coaxed a groundout against Ernie De La Trinidad to end the inning.
The Blue Wahoos took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Joe Cronin led off and was hit by a pitch. He was later struck again in the ninth. With one out, Luis Arraez singled. Gore followed with an RBI single. Brian Schales' two-out single scored Arraez. Hamilton followed with a single, but Gore was thrown out at home on a perfect throw from center fielder Trent Grisham.
The Shuckers answered with two runs in the bottom of the second. With one out, Cooper Hummel reached on an error that triggered the inning. Hummel stole second and Luis Aviles Jr. walked. Blake Allemond's single off Smeltzer loaded the bases.
After Michael O'Neill's two-run single to left, Smeltzer was able to get the next two batters out to end the inning.
The score stayed that way in the fifth when McDowell's line drive on a 1-2 pitch dropped Smeltzer and caromed to first baseman Joe Cronin.
Blue Wahoos trainer Davey Lacroix rushed to the field to aid Smeltzer. He eventually was able to standup and walk off the field as stunned silence changed to applause.
Reliever Adam Bray got out of the inning, then pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh.
In the sixth, the Blue Wahoos padded the lead when Arraez singled and Gore walked. English's single scored Arraez. Schales then reached on a throwing error that scored Gore.
From that point, the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over. First, Bray earned his first win by working three innings and allowing just two hits. Sam Clay earned his first save by retiring the Shuckers in the eighth, then ending the game on a double play ball.
The Blue Wahoos will face the Shuckers Thursday night, weather-permitting, at 6:35 p.m., then finish the series on Friday at 6:35 p.m. The Blue Wahoos will return to Pensacola to begin an Easter weekend homestand on Saturday against the Mobile BayBears.