Blue Wahoos Pitchers Combine For 17 Strikeouts, But Biscuits Pull Out Win 

The Blue Wahoos’ sidewinder C.J. Carter had been effective with his slider in relief during the seventh inning.

But the one he would like to take back, didn’t come back, and instead became a three-run homer from Seaver Whalen that proved decisive in the Montgomery Biscuits 3-1 win Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

That sequence was the only the time either team Friday had multiple baserunners in a game featuring outstanding pitching and defense the entire way.

The Blue Wahoos (44-44) managed just two hits, but their pitchers combined to record 17 strikeouts, including three fanned by Carter in that seventh inning and four by starter Jake Eder, who looked strong in his 3.2 innings.

The Biscuits (49-38) evened the series at two games apiece. The Blue Wahoos will stage their popular fireworks show following Saturday’s game between the teams. Sunday’s game has been changed to a 1:05 p.m. start due to weather concerns related to Tropical Storm Fred.

Eder who continues to attract attention toward a hopeful promotion, allowed just one hit and recorded four strikeouts while facing 13 batters.

His four strikeouts enabled him to take over the lead in that category among Double-A South pitchers. He now has 99 for the season.

Eder was followed by Andrew McInvale, who bounced back from two prior rough outings, to pitch his best game in relief for the Blue Wahoos.

McInvale did not allow a hit and struck out five of the seven batters he faced to keep a lead intact at the time.

Catcher Brian Navarreto, who played in Pensacola most of 2019 while with the Minnesota Twins organization, provided the Blue Wahoos with their celebratory moment. He blasted a deep shot over the center field wall to lead off the fifth inning.

It was Navarreto’s first homer since joining the Blue Wahoos a second time, now as part of the Miami Marlins system. Navarreto made his big-league debut with the Marlins in 2020.

But the Biscuits answered in the seventh. Carter started the inning and gave up a lead-off single, before striking out the next two batters. Blake Hunt hit a two out flare to right center that dropped for a single.

On a 0-1 pitch, Whalen hit a no-doubter deep over the left field wall for the three-run game-changer.

The Blue Wahoos got a one-out walk in the eighth inning from Connor Justus. But reliever Cristofer Ogando got a double-play to end the inning.

GAME NOTABLES – The series finale Sunday was switched after mutual agreement from both the Blue Wahoos and Biscuits, along with consultation with MLB administration.

--- The first 2,000 fans entering Friday’s game received a bobblehead “Hillsdale” as part of the set of Clydesdale horses connected with game sponsor Hill-Kelly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Car City.

--- Ronnie Richardson, the MLB Regional Supervisor who oversees the Double-A South attended both Thursday and Friday games. He is the liaison with Double-A South teams and the MLB front office in New York. It was his first visit to Pensacola and Blue Wahoos Stadium.

--- The Blue Wahoos recognized team photographer Nino Mendez before the game and he threw out a first pitch. Now in his second season, Mendez takes hundreds of photographs each day that appear on the Blue Wahoos’ Facebook and Instagram pages, along with other outlets. He photographs all pregame activities, the “Roach Run” and group outings in addition to game action photos.

BLUE WAHOOS WEEKEND

WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.

GAMETIMES: Saturday at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 1:05 p.m. (time change).

TICKETS: Available for all games at www.bluewahoos.com, the stadium box office or calling 850-934-8444.

RADIO: ESPN-Pensacola (99.1 FM, 1330 AM), Chris Garagiola on play-by-play.

PROMOTIONS: Saturday: Fireworks Night following game, sponsored by Pen-Air Federal Credit Union

Sunday: Military Sunday, sponsored by WKRG News 5 and Covenant Care with discounted tickets for active and retired military. Plus, children attending the game can run the bases after the game and families can toss baseballs in the outfield for 30 minutes.