Encarnancion's Blast Gives Early Boost, But Blue Wahoos Drop Series Opener To Biscuits
The Blue Wahoos lived on the edge for much of Tuesday’s game. And they didn’t have the offense to overcome it. The Montgomery Biscuits took advantage of six walks and a pair of wild pitches, while producing 11 hits, amid quality bullpen work in a 5-1 victory at Blue Wahoos
The Blue Wahoos lived on the edge for much of Tuesday’s game.
And they didn’t have the offense to overcome it.
The Montgomery Biscuits took advantage of six walks and a pair of wild pitches, while producing 11 hits, amid quality bullpen work in a 5-1 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game began a six-game series against the Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
After dropping Sunday’s series finale at Rocket City – a 1-0 loss in 11 innings – the Blue Wahoos bats were again held in check Tuesday. Three Biscuits relievers combined to pitch 5.1 innings and allowed just two hits.
Left fielder Jerar Encarnacion’s booming home run in the second inning – his third in a week -- which gave the Blue Wahoos a short-lived lead at the time, was their lone hit until the sixth inning.
That was also the Blue Wahoos best chance for more runs. They had two on, one out following a pair of singles, including a second hit by Encarnacion, but Griffin Conine’s hard-grounder was fielded for a second out.
Cobie Fletcher-Vance then followed with a deep shot in the left-center power alley that Biscuits left fielder Jordan Qsar tracked for the third out.
It became the decisive sequence.
Two Montgomery relievers combined to retire nine of the last 10 batters faced to end the game.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher George Soriano pitched out of jams in each inning. He got a double play to end the first inning, a put out at home plate on a throw from right fielder Griffin Conine to end the second and stranded a pair of runners to end the fourth.
The Biscuits’ Grant Witherspoon broke open the game with his two-run singe in the fourth. Kameron Misner, who played for the Blue Wahoos late last season, while a member of the Miami Marlins organization, blasted a solo home run over the scoreboard in right field in the ninth inning.
Misner reached base four times against his former team.
The series continues Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos new promotion, “One Price Wednesday.” Every available seat is $17 in the stadium, excluding those purchased by season-ticket holders. The ticket includes hot dog, chips and a soda on the Winn-Dixie party deck in right field.
The food will be available beginning at 5:30 through conclusion of the third inning.
Cody Mincey (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will be on the mound for the Blue Wahoos against Montgomery’s Caleb Sampen (0-0, 4.50).
GAME NOTABLES
Tuesday’s game was the first of the “Fat Tuesday” nights with East Hill Pizza and the Fin&Fork Seafood Restaurant on Gregory Street as co-sponsors.
For $26 per-ticket, attendees received admission to the Winn Dixie Party deck in right field and were able to sample a 90-minute buffet featuring items from both sponsors as well as other food items, plus free Pepsi products, along with a Blue Wahoos hat.
The promotion will be offered each Tuesday during the Blue Wahoos home schedule and will be limited to 125 customers to ensure the buffet can be enjoyed for the full time allotment.
The National Anthem was performed by the Shoal River Middle School band from Crestview. The band had a 70-member group in attendance.