Wahoos Game Suspended Again by More Chattanooga Rain
August 4, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Saturday’s plans to finish two games between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts were foiled by rain once again, as Friday’s suspended game was halted after just four at-bats.
After rain and wet grounds forced Friday’s contest to be suspended with the Blue Wahoos trailing 4-2 in the top of the fifth, the game resumed Saturday afternoon under cloudy skies. In the span of four batters, the Blue Wahoos collected RBI singles from Andrew Pintar and Nathan Martorella to claim a 6-4 lead before rain began once more.
The game, not yet official, will be picked up again on Sunday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. CT. A seven-inning contest will follow to conclude the series. As the Blue Wahoos and Lookouts have no more meetings in the 2024 season, one game in the weeklong set will be canceled.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Suspended By Rain In Chattanooga
August 3, 2024
Friday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Chattanooga Lookouts was suspended due to rain in the top of the fifth inning, with the Lookouts leading 4-2 and the Blue Wahoos at the plate.
In a battle of two young arms, Pensacola righty Jacob Miller was greeted rudely in the first inning of his Double-A debut with a two-run homer from Southern League home run leader Nick Northcut.
The Blue Wahoos answered back in the second against Chattanooga’s Chase Petty, stringing together four hits and tying the game 2-2 on an RBI single from Nathan Martorella followed by an RBI double from Cody Morissette.
The Lookouts reclaimed a 4-2 lead in the third with RBI singles from Ruben Ibarra and Austin Callahan. Pensacola began to threaten in the top of the fifth, putting two runners aboard with one out for Joe Mack, before rain arrived just shy of the game becoming official.
The game will be completed on Saturday, August 3 at 5:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. CT, with the regularly scheduled game to follow no earlier than 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT.
Lowder Quiets Wahoos In 2-1 Loss To Lookouts
August 2, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
One night after hammering out 36 runs in a doubleheader sweep, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos were kept largely quiet by the Chattanooga Lookouts in a 2-1 loss on Thursday night.
Rhett Lowder (W, 3-4), the reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week, worked 6.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball to earn the win for Chattanooga. Pensacola’s lone run came on a solo homer from Cody Morissette in the fifth inning.
The Lookouts jumped ahead against Pensacola starter Jeff Lindgren (L, 1-3) in the second inning as Nick Northcut hit his league-leading 21st home run of the season. They added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Jack Rogers.
Pensacola threatened in the seventh, but both Shane Sasaki and Morissette were thrown out attempting to steal after reaching base against reliever Luis Mey. Patrick Weigel (S, 4) worked around a two-out walk to lock down the save in the ninth.
The series in Chattanooga continues on Friday. First pitch from AT&T Field is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT,
Wahoos Rout Lookouts In Historic Doubleheader Sweep
August 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept the Chattanooga Lookouts in convincing fashion on Wednesday night, winning game one of their doubleheader 16-7 and setting a team record with a 19-run margin of victory in a 20-1 nightcap.
Making up Tuesday’s rainout with a twin bill, the Blue Wahoos were invigorated by the arrival of new players in the aftermath of the MLB trade deadline. In game one, Jared Serna, acquired over the weekend from the Yankees in a trade that sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to New York, burst onto the scene with a 4-for-5, 3 RBI game in his Double-A debut. Jakob Marsee tied a Blue Wahoos single-game record with 6 RBI in the first game, hitting the team’s first grand slam of the season as the Wahoos scored 16 runs on 18 hits.
Luis Palacios (W, 8-5) allowed only two earned runs over 5.2 innings, earning his team-leading 8th win of the season and moving into a tie for second place in team history with his 18th career win. He outdueled Kevin Abel (L, 4-5), who allowed six runs in 4.0 innings before the Chattanooga bullpen let things get out of hand.
Joe Mack capped the 17-run outburst with his team-leading 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning to highlight a 4-RBI game for the Pensacola catcher.
In game two, Tristan Stevens (W, 2-1) worked 5.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win for the Blue Wahoos. Pensacola scored two runs in the first inning without a hit against Jose Acuña (L, 0-2), setting the tone for a wild night.
The Blue Wahoos added to their lead in the third as Andrew Pintar executed a double steal of home, just the eighth in team history, followed by a two-out, two-run single from Cody Morissette. An opposite-field two-run homer from Paul McIntosh in the fourth extended the Pensacola advantage to 7-1.
The seventh inning saw the Lookouts wave the white flag, ultimately sending in position player Francisco Urbaez to serve up 10 Pensacola runs on five hits, six walks and a hit batsman. Serna added a two-run double and a bases-loaded walk for a 4-RBI game, McIntosh drove in his fourth run of the night with a bases-loaded walk, and Jacob Berry put the finishing touches on an historic night with an RBI single.
The 19-run margin of victory marked the most lopsided win in team history, surpassing a 22-6 win in Birmingham in May of 2023.
The Blue Wahoos pulled into a tie for second place with the Mississippi Braves with the pair of wins. Both teams are 2.0 games behind the Biloxi Shuckers in the second half South Division race.
The series in Chattanooga continues on Thursday. First pitch from AT&T Field is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT.
Blue Wahoos, Lookouts Postponed in Chattanooga
July 31, 2024
Tuesday’s game between with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the Chattanooga Lookouts was postponed due to rain at AT&T Field.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 31, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. CT.
Florida Average Gas Prices Decline Slightly After Drop In Oil Prices
July 29, 2024
Florida gas prices rose 11 cents early last week reaching $3.55 per gallon. The state average then reversed course, declining 7 cents during the past four days. On Sunday, the state average was $3.40 per gallon. That’s about 3 cents more than a week ago.
“Gas prices could move even lower, after a big drop in oil prices last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Recent fuel reports show China’s crude oil imports are declining. This has driven prices lower, on concerns that global fuel demand is softening.”
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.11. Sunday night, a low of $2.89 was available at several Pensacola stations, including on Pine Forest Road, Kenmore Road and Mobile Highway. In North Escambia, Sunday night’s low price was $2.99 at stations on South Highway 29.
In early July, the U.S. price for crude traded at around $83 per barrel. Oil has since declined a total of 8% through the past three weeks. The biggest weekly drop occurred last week. Oil prices fell nearly $3 per barrel (4%). Friday’s closing price was $77.16 a barrel. Oil hasn’t traded this low since the first week of June. During that time, the average gas price in Florida was around $3.30 a gallon.
Blue Wahoos Drop Homestand Finale, Split Series With Shuckers
July 29, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos wrapped up their second longest stretch of home games, which featured some big crowds, breakthrough events and cooperative weather during the nine-game period.
On the field, however, the Blue Wahoos wished for a few more wins.
After taking three of the first four games against the Biloxi Shuckers, the weekend and homestand ended in a glum way in a 6-1 loss Sunday before 3,987 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It earned the Shuckers (47-47 overall, 17-10 in second half) a split in the series, following their 8-4 win Saturday night. Sunday’s win also enabled Biloxi to split the second half matchups (6-6) against the Blue Wahoos (52-43, 14-13) – a tiebreaker the Blue Wahoos missed claiming if the teams tie in a second-half divisional race.
When the Blue Wahoos next return home, it will be mid-August, following a back-to-back set of road trips beginning on Tuesday against the Chattanooga Lookouts, followed by the last-ever trip to Trustmark Park to play the Mississippi Braves. The M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Georgia following this season.
In going 3-6 at home the past two weeks, a familiar theme emerged. The Blue Wahoos lacked big innings and extra-base hits with runners on base.
Sunday, the Blue Wahoos left 11 runners on base and produced just five hits.
Patrick Monteverde delivered a quality start, working six innings and allowing just two earned runs with four strikeouts. He absorbed a hard-luck loss.
Meanwhile, the Shuckers’ Jacob Misiorowski, the Milwaukee Brewers No. 2 rated prospect whose status is rising, made his second start of the week, checking the Blue Wahoos on just one hit with three strikeouts, three walks in 3.2 innings.
The Shuckers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on a bloop single and a wild pitch.
The Blue Wahoos missed a big chance in the fifth inning when loading the bases with one out. Shuckers reliever Will Childers then got Joe Mack to hit a slow roller back toward the mound for an easy force-out at the plate, and Jacob Berry popped out to end the inning.
Paul McIntosh drove home the Blue Wahoos’ lone run in the seventh with his two-out single that scored Jakob Marsee, who had reached on a walk.
The Shuckers broke open the game with a 4-run rally in the ninth, taking advantage of a fielding error and walk to string together hits against Blue Wahoos reliever Woo Suk-Go, who has struggled since joining the team.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
WHEN: Tuesday Thru Sunday (Aug. 4)
WHERE: AT&T Field, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
FOLLOWING WEEK: The Blue Wahoos will then travel to face the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss. from Aug. 6-Aug. 11.
Blue Wahoos Fall Behind Early, Drop Saturday’s Game To Shuckers
July 28, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The first three runs the Biloxi Shuckers scored Saturday occurred on a grounder that hit an umpire, a just-missed double play, and a full-swing slow roller that stayed inside the third base line.
That third inning proved an omen of the night for the Blue Wahoos.
The Shuckers ballooned their 3-0 lead into a 8-4 victory, making postgame fireworks the biggest thrill for the usual sellout Saturday crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the third time in five games this week against Biloxi with an 8-4 final score. This time, however, the Shuckers stayed on top after taking a 7-1 lead into the seventh inning stretch.
The Blue Wahoos created their one moment of intrigue in that at-bat. They scored runs when Jacob Berry led off with a double. Nathan Martorella walked. Shane Sasaki followed with an RBI double.
A wild pitch scored Martorella. Dalvy Rosario’s sacrifice fly scored Sasaki and suddenly it was a 3-run deficit. The inning ended with Jakob Marsee at third when Zach Zubia struck out.
The Blue Wahoos did not get a baserunner in the final two innings.
But the crowd remained as Blue Wahoos popular emcee “Downtown Dave” Presnell proclaimed, “Blue Wahoos fans, we didn’t win the game, but we’ll win the fireworks.”
The Blue Wahoos (52-42 overall, 14-12 second half) will get a second chance in Sunday’s series finale at 4:05 p.m. to win this homestand series against the Shuckers (46-47, 16-10).
Saturday, besides some unfortunate bounces, they faced a strong outing from Biloxi righthanded starter Logan Henderson, rated the No. 16 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Henderson (5-2, 3.38 ERA), worked six innings, allowing just three hits, one run, and striking out six.
The Blue Wahoos’ lone run off Henderson was Joe Mack’s 16th home run to lead off the fourth inning. It was his 14th homer since May 28.
Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren, who lasted just four innings, may have gotten out of the third inning without much damage if not for tough luck. With one out, a hard grounder hit by Brock Wilson hit the base umpire’s leg, causing the play to be ruled a single with a run scored.
It could have been a double play. The next batter, Ernesto Martinez Jr., then beat the relay throw to fend off a double play and score another run. Eric Brown Jr. then had a slow grounder stay fair inside the third base line for another RBI hit.
The Shuckers then blew out the game with Xavier Warren’s two-run homer off Lindgren in the fourth inning and Lamar Sparks’ 2-run homer off Anderson Pilar in the fifth.
Sunday’s game will be the Blue Wahoos’ final game this season against Biloxi. The Blue Wahoos have controlled the series with a 15-7 record, but only hold a 6-5 edge in the second half. A win in the finale would give the Blue Wahoos a tie-breaker advantage should the two teams tie for the second half division win and playoff spot.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Spohn Delivers 3 RBIs As Blue Wahoos Delight With Win Against Shuckers
July 27, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Harrison Spohn was just trying to continue his baseball career two years ago, following five collegiate seasons and a long-shot opportunity as an undrafted free agent.
“I don’t take any of this for granted,” said Spohn, the Blue Wahoos’ starting shortstop, who played at California Baptist before accepting a chance in the Miami Marlins minor league system. “It’s been a dream come true.”
Another special memory occurred Friday night when Spohn drove went drove home three runs on two singles, leading the Blue Wahoos to an 8-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers in front of a sellout crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The score matched the Blue Wahoos’ victory Tuesday in the series opener. But this one had a different feel.
The Blue Wahoos at the plate produced seven hits, reached six other times on walks and struck out just six times. They seized control early with a 4-run second inning.
After Joe Mack was hit by a pitch and Nathan Martorella – the star of Thursday’s win – reached on a fielder’s choice, Sean Roby then walked to load the bases. Dalvy Rosario’s infield chopper scored Mack, then Spohn followed with a two-run double. Shane Sasaki completed the rally with an RBI single.
Eight of the nine batters in the lineup reached base in a game where the Blue Wahoos opened a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning and got their normal boost from the bullpen to finish the game.
“It was good to get going in that second inning,” Spohn said.It continued in the fifth inning when Jacob Berry’s 2-run single completed 3-run rally. Paul McIntosh started with an RBI single that scored Sasaki.
On the mound, Blue Wahoos starter Paul Campbell was designated for a limited outing, as he recovers from an injury. His last start was June 8. He was strong on Friday night, allowing no hits in his three innings and retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced.
Adam Laskey worked the next four innings, allowing three runs, followed by Woo-Suk Go, who pitched a scoreless eighth and Raffi Vizcaíno, who finished in the ninth.
The Blue Wahoos (52-41 overall) are now 15-6 this season against the Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to claim the series on Saturday against the Shuckers
The Blue Wahoos will send righthander Jeff Lindgren (1-1, 4.21 ERA) on the mound. The Shuckers will throw right-hander Logan Henderson (4-2, 3.71). Pregame activities begin at 5:45 to include ceremonial first pitches. The actual game first pitch is at 6:05 p.m.
After Friday’s home game, the Blue Wahoos now have 20 home games remaining in the regular season. They are 28-21 this season at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Martorella’s Clutch Hit Ignites Blue Wahoos Walk-Off Win
July 26, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos’ game-winning celebration went all the way into right field.
Nathan Martorella was thrilled to run that far in jubilation.
Inserted two innings earlier as a pinch-hitter, Martorella broke through his recent struggles to deliver a two out, bases-loaded single in the 11th inning that capped a two-run rally and lifted the Blue Wahoos to a much-enjoyed 4-3 walk-off victory Thursday against the Biloxi Shuckers.
With about half the original crowd remaining at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Martorella reacted the split-second he connected on a slider, low-and-away, from Shuckers closer Justin Yeager and sent it opposite field into left-center for the game-winner.
It happened on a night when Pensacola (51- 40 overall) took on its alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets on “Mullet Thursday” – a switch that has them 7-2 this season in those Thursday uniforms.
Biloxi (45-46), the second-half divisional leader, had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th on a leadoff single from Lamar Sparks, scoring placement runner Dylan O’Rae. But Blue Wahoos reliever Tyler Eckberg retired the next three batters. That proved pivotal.
The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with one out on singles from Paul McIntosh and Jacob Berry. Shane Sasaki, who led the way in Tuesday’s win against Biloxi, worked his way from an 0-2 count into a game-tying walk.
After Cody Morissette struck out swinging, Martorella delivered. He had been 1-for-9 this series, but on a tough pitch to hit, he produced an emphatic result.
This game started out with a double no-hitter into the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Wahoos broke through against Shuckers starter Shane Smith. With two outs, Jakob Marsee walked. Zach Zubia broke up the Smith’s no-hitter with a double off the left field wall. McIntosh followed with a 2-run single.
Blue Wahoos starter Jonathan Bermúdez lost his no-hitter in the seventh inning after walking the first two batters and giving up an RBI double to Sparks for the Shuckers’ first run. Sparks then tied the game in the eighth on a sacrifice fly.
It was a tough no-decision for Bermúdez, who finished with a one-hitter in 6.1 innings with three strikeouts and five walks. Three of those walks, however, occurred in the seventh inning as he just missed the strike zone on several pitches.
The Blue Wahoos were unable to deliver a game-winner after their closer, Austin Roberts, twice had scoreless innings in the ninth and 10th.
But when Martorella singled, his teammates raced from the dugout as he rounded first and turned right, going into the outfield where he was doused with ice water.
It continued Pensacola’s noteworthy success in these kind of games with eight wins in nine extra-inning games.
McIntosh was the Blue Wahoos’ lone multi-hit batter, going 2-for-5 to boost his average to .250.
The fourth game of the series will be Friday at 6:05 p.m.