PENSACOLA, FL -- Coming off multiple surgeries, Homer Bailey (1-0) made a rehab start in Pensacola and was spectacular for five shutout innings of three-hit baseball. He walked one and struck out five Braves to pick up the win as the Blue Wahoos defeated Mississippi 6-2 in Friday night's series
PENSACOLA, FL -- Coming off multiple surgeries, Homer Bailey (1-0) made a rehab start in Pensacola and was spectacular for five shutout innings of three-hit baseball. He walked one and struck out five Braves to pick up the win as the Blue Wahoos defeated Mississippi 6-2 in Friday night's series opener.
Keury Mella made his first appearance from the bullpen in 2017 and pitched the final four innings, giving up two runs on three hits, one walk and four strikeouts to notch the save.
Before a sellout crowd, Pensacola (35-26) took a 4-0 lead with runs in the second, third and fourth innings to give their pitchers all the offense needed to secure the win over Mississippi (31-30). The Braves finally got on the board in the sixth to cut the lead in half, 4-2, only to give the two runs back in the seventh.
Eric Jagielo singled and scored in the second. Gabriel Guerrero doubled in the third and scored on the double by Alex Blandino a couple batters later. Aristedes Aquino, who walked, also scored on the Blandino double. In the fifth, Tyler Goeddel led off with a double and scored on a fielder's choice by Aquino.
The Braves only inning to shine offensively was the sixth. Jared James hit a pinch hit single to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a double by Luis Valenzuela. After a strikeout, Travis Demeritte walked to load the bases. Kade Scivicque then delivered a two-run single, plating both James and Valenzuela. That was all the offense the Braves could muster.
The Blue Wahoos plated two more runs in the seventh when Jagielo doubled to lead off the inning. After two strikeouts, Blake Trahan singled to set up a two-run double from Keury Mella, making it a 6-2 game for Pensacola.
Mississippi used five pitchers. Andres Santiago started and went 3.2 innings. He took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits, five walks and three strikeouts in his Mississippi debut. Philip Pfeifer shut out the Blue Wahoos for one and one-third. Danny Reynolds pitched one scoreless inning. Rex Brothers gave up two runs on three hits and Jesse Biddle pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Braves send RHP Mike Soroka (7-3) to the mound against Pensacola RHP Tyler Mahle (7-2) in game two of the series at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday night. First pitch is at 6:35 PM (CT).
Mississippi (31-30) 2R 6H 0E
Pensacola (35-26) 6R 11H 1E
Win: Homer Bailey (1-0)
Loss: Andrea Santiago (0-1)
Save: Keury Mella (1)
Time: 2:37
Atten: 5,038
