Ortiz-Mayr Twirls Gem, Wahoos Win 1-0 Duel
August 2, 2025
Of the feats attained by the Blue Wahoos pitching staff, one lacking element this season was getting a 1-0 win at home.
Add that now to the sparkle list.
After getting a season-best start from Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, who worked into the seventh inning for the first time this year, relievers Will Kempner and Austin Roberts finished off a crisply-played, five-hit shutout Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers to delight a crowd of 4,554 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos remained unbeaten (38-0) when leading after eight innings this season. This includes a 1-0 shutout win on the road at Columbus on July 10.
“My sweeper was really good (Friday), I was landing it into the (strike) zone a lot,” said Ortiz-Mayr, during the on-field, post-game interview. “Just getting two strikes as quick as possible and trusting my defense.”
When Ortiz-Mayr exited in the seventh, the Shuckers had runners on first and third with one out. Kempner then induced Shuckers second baseman Jheremy Vargas to hit a grounder that shortstop Johnny Olmstead and second baseman Cody Morissette deftly turned into an inning-ending double-play.
When the twin-killing was completed to first baseman Nathan Martorella, the crowd roared, knowing it was a game-defining moment.
“That was as cool as it gets,” Ortiz-Mayr said, before his catcher Spencer Bramwell doused him with an ice bucket. “Shout out to Kempner making great pitches. Shout out to Johnny, Morissette and Marty for getting the play done. That was awesome. Can’t thank them enough.”
In earning his sixth win, Ortiz-Mayr struck out eight, one shy of a career high, and allowed just one walk around the five hits allowed. He retired nine consecutive batters after a one-out single in the fourth to help his outing.
The Blue Wahoos got the game’s only run in their first at-bat.
Morissette reached on a one-out walk. Kemp Alderman and Martorella then followed with walks to load the bases. Fenwick Trimble hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to score Morissette.
And that was it for the scoring. The Blue Wahoos had two runners on with less than two out in the sixth and eighth inning, but the Shuckers bullpen held the game to a 1-0 score.
Kempner (1.2 innings) and Roberts finished the shutout by not allowing a hit and only one base runner in the final three innings.
It gave the Blue Wahoos (53-46 overall, 20-11 in second half) a third consecutive win in this series. Their top pitcher, Thomas White, the Miami Marlins’ No. 1 prospect, who wowed with a 14-strikeout performance in his last start, will take the mound Saturday in a marquee game featured for free on MiLB.TV.
GAME NOTABLES
— Former Blue Wahoos outfielder Jakob Marsee made his Major League Baseball debut Friday night for the Miami Marlins as the starting centerfielder, batting ninth. His debut Friday night came complete with his first MLB hit.
Marsee joined the Blue Wahoos in May 2024, following a trade with the San Diego Padres that featured Luis Arraez, who played for the Blue Wahoos in 2019. Marsee played 91 games last year for the Blue Wahoos, but struggled at the plate.
This season, however, he’s been strong in Triple-A with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, smashing 14 homers, stealing 47 bases and driving in 37 runs in 98 games. Marsee is now the 149th player from the Blue Wahoos’ all-time roster to make an MLB debut.
— Four members of the current Blue Wahoos roster – catchers Spencer Bramwell and Connor Caskenette, along with infielder Tony Bullard and pitcher Ike Buxton – joined with retired players Tim Spooneybarger, Kevin Saucier and Adron Chambers on Friday morning for the second annual Blue Wahoos Baseball Camp.
Youth boys and girls, ages 5-12, received a colorful pink T-shirt, lunch and instruction from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. The second day of the camp will be Saturday at the same time. Parents were able to see their kids on the field at Blue Wahoos Stadium receiving tips and conversing with the instructors, along with Blue Wahoos front office staff members.
— The first 1,000 fans received a back-to-school kit pouch in Blue Wahoos colors. It contained pencils, a ruler and eraser with room for other supplies.
— The game was designated as Coast Guard Day with a 250-member contingent gathered in one section. They were part of 13 groups in attendance Friday night. The groups also included a bachelor party outing, employees from the Waterfront Rescue Mission and a Baldwin County (Ala.) government agency.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game begins at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s game will start at 4:05 p.m.
Wahoos Score Early, Beat Biloxi 9-3
August 1, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
In a potential preview of the Southern League South Divisional playoff series, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their second in a row over the Biloxi Shuckers in a 9-3 rout Thursday night.
Centerfielder Fenwick Trimble led the way for the Blue Wahoos, picking up his first three-hit night in Double-A along with two RBI and two runs scored.
“Everyone swung it well tonight, and the pitchers pitched great,” Trimble said. “[They have] a good team out there, trying to nudge back at the end. We locked it down, so that was a lot of fun. These guys are a lot of fun.”
The Blue Wahoos jumped out in front early, putting up a six-spot in the second inning while taking advantage of some Shuckers miscues.
Tony Bullard got the scoring started, launching a solo home run for his fifth of the year. After a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by starter Tate Kuehner (L, 7-5) moved Johnny Olmstead from first to third, the Pensacola shortstop came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Connor Caskenette that was booted by Shuckers shortstop Cooper Pratt.
Trimble drove in the next two runs in the second inning after Shuckers first baseman Eric Martinez misplayed an infield fly, falling for a single to allow Caskenette and Shane Sasaki to score.
“[I] was trying to handle the zone and get good counts to hit,” Trimble said. “That’s really all it comes down to.”
Kemp Alderman picked up an RBI single after a 107 mph ground ball deflected off of Pratt into center, scoring Jared Serna. Trimble made it a half dozen in the second inning after coming home on a passed ball.
The Wahoos added runs number seven and eight in the third, both coming in on bases-loaded walks to Michael Snyder and Serna. Kuehner’s night ended after walking Snyder, and the lefty was charged for eight runs (three earned) over 2.1 innings while walking four Blue Wahoos batters.
Luis Lara put the Shuckers on the board in the fifth inning after an RBI groundout to short. This was the only run tagged onto the line of Blue Wahoos starter Dax Fulton (W, 5-7). With seven strikeouts across 5.0 innings, the six-foot-seven southpaw lowered his ERA to 4.88 on the season.
Pensacola tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a Cody Morissette sacrifice fly to center to bring Trimble home for the second time.
The Shuckers picked up a pair of runs in the final innings. Mike Boeve came around to score on a wild pitch in the eighth, while Jheremy Vargas picked up an RBI single in the ninth.
Pensacola’s bullpen, a strength all season, protected the lead once again. Right-hander Jesse Bergin twirled two no-hit innings, while Ike Buxton and Josh Ekness were tagged for a run each.
With their second straight win over Biloxi and their 52nd win of the season overall, the Wahoos now lead the Montgomery Biscuits by 4.5 games for the second-half title.
“We are looking to just continue to have fun and keep playing hard,” Trimble said. “They’re a good team, but we will continue to stick to it and do what we do well.”
Pensacola and Biloxi will face off in game four of the series on Friday night, as Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (5-5, 4.08 ERA) makes his 15th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos welcomed a quartet of mascots at Thursday’s game. In addition to Kazoo, there was a mascot for social media influencer “Beach Billy,” and the Blue Wahoos’ own Mullet Man.
— In the fourth inning, a wedding proposal was shown on the videoboard with another couple becoming engaged during a game at the ballpark.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday. Gametimes on Friday and Saturday are 6:05 p.m. start time and Sunday’s game will start at 4:05 p.m..
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Late Rally Leads Fitterer, Wahoos To Comeback Win
July 31, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
A record-tying relief performance, combined with a five-run seventh inning, propelled the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to an 8-4 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday night.
Evan Fitterer (W, 6-4) tallied six punchouts over 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, ending his night with a strikeout of Biloxi’s Darrien Miller to tie the Blue Wahoos career franchise record of 258 set by Daniel Wright in 2015-16 and 2018.
“It’s pretty cool,” Fitterer said of the record. “It’s definitely cool to have a record of any kind in baseball.”
Fitterer anchored things down for the Blue Wahoos out of the bullpen, allowing only three baserunners while the Pensacola bats made a furious comeback after trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning.
“Everything was working,” Fitterer said. “I was just throwing things, trying to get things in the strike zone and let the defense take care of the rest.”
Kemp Alderman tied the game 4-4 with an RBI infield single in the seventh against Biloxi’s Nick Merkel (L,1-1). Nathan Martorella followed with a two-run single for a 6-4 lead, and Fenwick Trimble added on with a two-run double. After the five-run frame, Pensacola has now outscored opponents by 32 runs in the seventh inning this season.
“They’ve been doing it the last couple of weeks,” Fitterer said. “Staying in it, coming back, the lineup has been doing a really good job.”
Biloxi scratched across the first run of the night against Blue Wahoos starter Jake Brooks as leadoff man Luis Lara drove in Bladimir Restituyo on a sacrifice fly to left in the third inning.
The Blue Wahoos offense started in the third, bringing three men around to score. Jared Serna, Cody Morissette and Alderman each picked up an RBI single after starter Brett Wichrowski walked three consecutive batters to begin the inning. Shuckers right fielder Garrett Spain prevented two more runs from scoring, throwing out two runners at the plate in the inning.
Miller tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth for Biloxi, lining a double down the right field line to drive in two. Miller later scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Spain to give the Shuckers a 4-3 lead.
Brooks made his Double-A debut on the mound for the Blue Wahoos Wednesday night. Across 4.0 IP, the former UCLA Bruin allowed four runs on four hits while striking out four Shuckers. Nigel Belgrave closed things out with a scoreless ninth inning to seal win number 51 for the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola and Biloxi will square off in game three of the series tomorrow. Left-hander Dax Fulton (4-7, 5.10 ERA) will make his 16th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos while the Shuckers send out right-hander Tate Kuehner (7-4, 2.39 ERA) to take the mound.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos announced that outfielder Grant Richardson was elevated to Triple-A Jacksonville. Richardson was batting .237 in 28 games for the Blue Wahoos with six homers and 20 RBI. He had several big games for the team and walk-off hits.
— Wednesday’s game was the final mid-week fireworks night of the summer. The Blue Wahoos’ final three homestands that will follow this week occur with area schools back in session
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday. Gametimes on Thursday through Saturday games are 6:05 p.m. start time and Sunday’s game will start at 4:05 p.m..
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Tate Aggies Name 2025 Volleyball Teams
July 30, 2025
Following tryouts Monday and Tuesday, Tate High School Volleyball named their teams for the upcoming 2025 season.
Varsity
- Grace Best
- Torrie Garrett
- McKenna Lister
- Bailie Merritt
- Ella Merritt
- Apple Moodie
- Brelynn Morris
- Niaviya Qualls
- Gianna Smart
- Jacey Stuart
- Jayla Templeman
- Laila Whitley
Junior Varsity
- Kiley Adams
- Jada Archer
- Brayley Cayton
- Ansleigh Crutchfield
- Grace Gaulden
- Lexi Hardy
- Carly Kimbro
- Harper Leopard
- Laila McNair
- Sarah Mitchell
- Bentley Wartman
- Kassidy Weiss
Freshmen
- Laura Ave
- Ayslie Bouie
- Laina Daughtery
- Emma Dubuc
- Callie Fechter
- Ryleigh Goolsby
- McKenna Jones
- Makylie Lewis
- Kelly McCabe
- Reese Ray
- Clara Stinnett
- Jordan Suarez
Pensacola Ice Flyers Announce Full 2025-26 Season Schedule
July 30, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers on Tuesday announced their 2025-26 full season schedule, which includes an expanded lineup of 29 home games at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Ice Flyers will drop the puck on their season Saturday, October 18, 2025, when they welcome the Macon Mayhem to “The Hangar”.
“We’re thrilled to offer our fans additional Ice Flyers hockey this season with our expanded schedule,” said Brenden Arney, Ice Flyers director of Marketing and Operations. “From our home opener against Macon to our creative theme nights, the 2025-26 season is set to be our most entertaining yet.”
- Macon at Pensacola: October 18, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Huntsville: October 24, 7:00 PM
- Birmingham at Pensacola: October 25, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Birmingham: October 30, 7:00 PM
- Macon at Pensacola: November 1, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Knoxville: November 7, 6:30 PM
- Pensacola at Knoxville: November 8, 6:30 PM
- Fayetteville at Pensacola: November 14, 7:05 PM
- Fayetteville at Pensacola: November 15, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Huntsville: November 21, 7:00 PM
- Pensacola at Huntsville: November 22, 7:00 PM
- Huntsville at Pensacola: November 26, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Birmingham: November 28, 7:00 PM
- Birmingham at Pensacola: November 29, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Birmingham: December 4, 7:00 PM
- Roanoke at Pensacola: December 5, 7:05 PM
- Roanoke at Pensacola: December 6, 7:05 PM
- Huntsville at Pensacola: December 11, 7:05 PM
- Huntsville at Pensacola: December 20, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Macon: December 21, 2:00 PM
- Birmingham at Pensacola: December 23, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Huntsville: December 26, 7:00 PM
- Huntsville at Pensacola: December 27, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Macon: December 31, 7:00 PM
- Roanoke at Pensacola: January 2, 7:05 PM
- Roanoke at Pensacola: January 3, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Quad City: January 9, 7:10 PM
- Pensacola at Quad City: January 10, 7:10 PM
- Pensacola at Quad City: January 11, 2:10 PM
- Evansville at Pensacola: January 16, 7:05 PM
- Evansville at Pensacola: January 17, 7:05 PM
- Macon at Pensacola: January 18, 4:05 PM
- Pensacola at Knoxville: January 23, 6:30 PM
- Pensacola at Knoxville: January 24, 6:30 PM
- Fayetteville at Pensacola: January 30, 7:05 PM
- Fayetteville at Pensacola: January 31, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Macon: February 5, 6:00 PM
- Knoxville at Pensacola: February 6, 7:05 PM
- Knoxville at Pensacola: February 7, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Roanoke: February 13, 6:05 PM
- Pensacola at Roanoke: February 14, 6:05 PM
- Macon at Pensacola: February 15, 4:05 PM
- Pensacola at Fayetteville: February 20, 6:00 PM
- Pensacola at Fayetteville: February 21, 5:00 PM
- Pensacola at Macon: February 26, 9:30 AM
- Birmingham at Pensacola: February 27, 7:05 PM
- Birmingham at Pensacola: February 28, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Peoria: March 6, 7:10 PM
- Pensacola at Peoria: March 7, 7:10 PM
- Pensacola at Peoria: March 8, 3:15 PM
- Macon at Pensacola: March 13, 7:05 PM
- Macon at Pensacola: March 14, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Birmingham: March 20, 7:00 PM
- Pensacola at Birmingham: March 21, 7:00 PM
- Quad City at Pensacola: March 27, 7:05 PM
- Quad City at Pensacola: March 28, 7:05 PM
- Pensacola at Evansville: April 3, 7:00 PM
- Pensacola at Evansville: April 4, 7:00 PM
Early Trouble Sends Wahoos to 7-3 Loss to Shuckers
July 30, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Alex Williams has encountered his roughest outings this season against the Biloxi Shuckers.
The latest occurred Tuesday night on a weather-plagued series opener, after the Blue Wahoos righthander struggled to find an early-game groove, leading into the Shuckers’ eventual 7-3 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game’s start time was delayed 1-hour, 11 minutes, followed by a 41-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fourth to make it an even longer night.
When the game began, Williams ran into instant trouble. A low pitch nicked the game’s leadoff batter, Luis Lara. After one out, the next three batters recorded hits, including a pair of RBI singles that scored Lara and the Shuckers’ highest-rated prospect, shortstop Cooper Pratt, who had doubled.
A throwing error in the second inning by Pensacola first baseman Nathan Martorella led to a third Shuckers run. In the third inning, Biloxi’s Jheremy Vargos broke the game open with a bases-loaded, 3-run double for a 6-0 lead. The rally was set up by a catcher’s interference call and another hit batter charged to Williams.
It became the shortest of Williams’ three starts since moving into that role on July 12.
Williams’ previous two times facing Biloxi this season came in relief. He allowed four runs on five hits July 4 in Biloxi in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Blue Wahoos produced three runs in the seventh on a solo homer by Johnny Olmstead, then an RBI double by Shane Sasaki and a balk to score Sasaki.
The six-game homestand continues Wednesday with the Blue Wahoos’ Jake Brooks, a former UCLA star pitcher, making his Double-A debut after being called up from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins High-A affiliate. He was an 11th round pick of the 2023 draft.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Wednesday Thru Sunday. Gametimes on Wednesday through Saturday games are 6:05 p.m. start time and Sunday’s game will start at 4:05 p.m..
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Despite Furious Comeback Effort, Wahoos Fall In Series Finale
July 28, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (50-45) dropped their series and regular season finale against the Knoxville Smokies (44-51) by a final score of 6-5.
On a sweltering Sunday afternoon, the Wahoos fell behind early. Knoxville plated a run in the first inning against Pensacola starter Jacob Miller when second baseman Reivaj Garcia singled home shortstop Jefferson Rojas with two outs.
After the Wahoos failed to answer in the top of the second, Knoxville burst out with a four-run bottom of the second inning. The first five Smokies of the inning reached base on three walks and two hits. Jefferson Rojas’ bases-clearing double and third baseman Pedro Ramirez’s RBI single capped the scoring for the Smokies, who led 5-0 after two innings of play.
The early lead held behind Knoxville starter Antonio Santos and a slew of bullpen arms. Pensacola scored its first run in the sixth inning when right fielder Kemp Alderman hit a solo home run against lefthander Chase Watkins, but the Wahoos trailed 5-1 heading into the seventh inning.
In the seventh inning, the Wahoos mounted another late-inning rally against the Knoxville bullpen. Righthander A.J. Puckett entered and promptly loaded the bases with one out before departing. New righthander Zac Leigh then walked three of the next four hitters with the bases loaded to cut the deficit to 5-4. With two outs, the bases loaded, and a 3-0 count on designated hitter Cody Morissette, Leigh stepped off the rubber and caught Jared Serna moving too far off third base. The 1-2 pickoff and caught stealing ended the inning and kept the Smokies in front 5-4.
In the eighth, Pensacola bounced back to tie the game. Shortstop Johnny Olmstead doubled with one out and later came in to score on a two-out RBI infield hit from catcher Spencer Bramwell.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the ninth worked by Smokies righthander Brad Deppermann (W, 4-2), Knoxville mounted its game-winning rally. Following a hit and an intentional walk against Pensacola righthander Jesse Bergin (L, 2-2), the Wahoos inserted closer Josh Ekness to escape the jam. However, Ekness walked right fielder Andy Garriola to load the bases before a run-scoring walk-off wild pitch ended the game and the series one batter later.
With the defeat, Pensacola heads home with a 4-2 series win despite a pair of losses to end the week. The Wahoos also found a pair of bright spots in the form of two newcomers – righthander Natanael Polanco worked three scoreless innings of relief in his Double-A debut, while catcher Nestor Rios collected his first career Double-A hit in the seventh inning.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, July 29 when they begin a six-game series versus the Biloxi Shuckers.
White Fans 14 In Historic Performance For Blue Wahoos
July 27, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Thomas White put together one of the most dominant performances in Minor League Baseball history Saturday night, striking out a career-high 14 batters over 5.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 4-2 to the Knoxville Smokies.
White, 20, the top prospect in the Miami Marlins organization, struck out 14 of the 17 men he faced in the most commanding start of his career. Scattering two singles without walking a batter, White tied a modern Southern League record by striking out eight consecutive batters from the final out of the first inning to the first out of the fourth inning. His 14 strikeouts were the most in a Minor League Baseball game this season, and second only to Tony Cingrani’s 15 strikeouts over 8.0 innings in 2012 for the most in by a single pitcher in Blue Wahoos history.
White struck out 13 of the final 14 batters he faced, a feat that has not been accomplished in Major League Baseball in the Expansion Era (since 1961).
The game was a low-scoring affair, with Knoxville starter Ryan Gallagher matching White’s zeroes and pitching into the seventh inning in a scoreless game. Johnny Olmstead broke the deadlock with a two-run homer in the seventh against Frankie Scalzo Jr. (W, 4-3), his 10th of the year to tie for the team lead.
The Blue Wahoos had gone 37-0 when leading after seven innings, but the Smokies put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn the tables. Jaylen Palmer beat out an infield single before Jefferson Rojas hit an RBI double off the left field wall. Pedro Ramirez walked, putting two runners aboard for BJ Murray Jr., Knoxville’s most potent power threat. The switch-hitting first baseman blasted a three-run shot off Nigel Belgrave (L, 4-1), ending a streak of 11 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run for the Blue Wahoos righty and giving the Smokies a 4-2 lead.
Tyler Santana (S, 3) worked a spotless ninth to end Pensacola’s five-game winning streak and Knoxville’s seven-game losing streak.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday afternoon.
Wahoos Break Through Late, Win Fifth In A Row Over Smokies
July 26, 2025
witten by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fifth game in a row on Friday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 in a game that was scoreless until the late innings.
Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Smokies starter Grant Kipp matched each other with 5.0 scoreless innings, and reliever Austin Roberts (W, 2-0) weathered a bases-loaded threat in the sixth inning to send the game to the seventh in a scoreless tie.
After a leadoff walk to Nathan Martorella, Ryan Ignoffo got the Blue Wahoos on the board with an RBI double on a sinking liner that skipped past Knoxville left fielder Andy Garriola. Two walks loaded the bases for Shane Sasaki, who laced a two-run double down the left field line for a 3-0 Blue Wahoos lead. A passed ball from catcher Casey Opitz capped a four-run frame that proved to be decisive.
With light rain falling in the final innings, the Blue Wahoos took advantage of erratic control from Smokies reliever Jacob Brentz to score an insurance run in the ninth with two walks and two balks. Josh Ekness (S, 9) earned the rare three-inning save, allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth but locking down a 5-1 final.
The five-game winning streak matches Pensacola’s longest of the season, set previously on June 5-10 with wins over Columbus and Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday night.
Another Ninth-Inning Comeback Sends Wahoos To Wild 10-7 Win
July 25, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Down to their final strike in the ninth inning, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos drew on recent history for another improbable comeback and a 10-7 win over the Knoxville Smokies on Thursday night.
Smokies closer A.J. Puckett (L, 2-6), the Southern League’s saves leader, was given a chance to atone for a rare blown save in Tuesday night’s 13-inning Pensacola win. Once again, one out away from victory, the Blue Wahoos had other plans.
Trailing 7-6, Johnny Olmstead led off the ninth inning with a double. Two outs later, he was still at second base as Michael Snyder battled back from an 0-2 count. The Pensacola left fielder finally got a pitch he could handle, lining a sharp grounder past the Knoxville shortstop Jefferson Rojas to score Olmstead and tie the game 7-7.
Jared Serna followed with a go-ahead RBI double into the left field corner, scoring Snyder from first base for an 8-7 lead. Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella added on with RBI singles, capping a four-run ninth inning that sent the first-place Blue Wahoos to their fourth win in a row.
The game started on shaky ground for the Blue Wahoos, who got only 1.1 innings from starter Dax Fulton. The lefty allowed a season-high seven runs, leaving in the middle of a five-run second inning that gave the Smokies a 7-3 lead.
Pensacola’s first reliever, Justin King, faced only two batters before leaving with an apparent injury. Evan Fitterer entered on short notice to get the final out of the second, and ultimately steadied the waters with 4.1 scoreless innings of one-hit relief.
Aside from a three-run second inning highlighted by a Mark Coley II RBI double, the Blue Wahoos didn’t get much done against Smokies starter Tyler Schlaffer. That changed as soon as Knoxville turned the game over to their bullpen, as Nathan Martorella began the comeback in the sixth inning with a solo homer, his team-leading 10th, off Frankie Scalzo Jr. to cut the deficit to 7-4.
Jake Thompson delivered a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning, and Alderman doubled and scored on a Josh Zamora sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to draw the Blue Wahoos to within a run.
Jesse Bergin worked 1.2 hitless innings of relief before Will Kempner (W, 3-1) got the final out of the eighth to keep the deficit to 7-6. After Pensacola’s ninth-inning rally, Kempner worked a quiet ninth to lock down the win.
The Blue Wahoos have now scored 20 ninth-inning runs in their past 11 games after scoring just eight in their first 81 games of the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Friday night.