'Been Here Before' As Blue Wahoos Seek To Extend Championship Series Following Game 1 Loss
Following Sunday’s 4-1 loss against the Tennessee Smokies in the first game of the Southern League championship series, the Blue Wahoos knew they have been in this precarious playoff position before. Only four days earlier, as a matter of fact. “Losing that first one, we know how it feels and
Following Sunday’s 4-1 loss against the Tennessee Smokies in the first game of the Southern League championship series, the Blue Wahoos knew they have been in this precarious playoff position before.
Only four days earlier, as a matter of fact.
“Losing that first one, we know how it feels and we know what we have to do,” said catcher Will Banfield, referring to how the Blue Wahoos rallied from a first-game playoff loss against the Montgomery Biscuits reach the Southern League championship series for the first time in the ballclub’s 10-year history.
“I think it’s a little extra taste in our mouth, coming from winning that first series. We’ll be right back at it,” Banfield added, after collecting two hits and throwing two runners out on steal attempts in Sunday's game.
Sunday, the Blue Wahoos were unable to climb out of a 4-0 deficit after three innings in dropping Game 1 in what became their final home appearance in Pensacola this year. The best-of-three-championship series now shifts on Tuesday to the Smokies home ballpark in Kodak, Tennessee, located 22 miles east of Knoxville.
It will be a win-or-go-home scenario for the Blue Wahoos in Tuesday’s (6:15 p.m. CDT) game. A deciding game, if necessary, will be Wednesday.
The Blue Wahoos won nine of the 12 regular-season meetings against the Smokies, part of their astonishing success against the North Division teams in the Southern League.
On Sunday, however, the Smokies pitching and defense shined brighter than any of the regular-season matchups. It carried from how well the Smokies – the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate – played in two stunning road wins against the Rocket City Trash Pandas to take the North Division playoffs.
The Trash Pandas, the Los Angeles Angels affiliate and located in Madison, Alabama, near Huntsville, had compiled h the Southern League’s best overall record. They had 49 home wins at their ballpark, Toyota Field, which was the most wins by any team in Minor League Baseball.
But the Smokies came into that setting and won twice in two days. Their pitching was again solid Sunday in Pensacola
After the Blue Wahoos scored their lone run in the fourth inning, they did not get another baserunner until the ninth inning. Four Tennessee pitchers combined to retire 15 consecutive batters.
With one out in their last at-bat in the ninth inning, some intrigue formed, along with the crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium urging for another comeback.
Thomas Jones, who was the star of Pensacola’s deciding game victory Friday against Montgomery, singled to left. Pinch hitter Cobie Fletcher-Vance was then hit by a pitch. Nasim Nunez fouled off a couple pitches before popping out. Banfield, who singled in his first two plate appearances Sunday, worked a 3-2 count before Tennessee reliever Bailey Horn struck him out on a high fastball to end the game.
“It’s just one of those things where someone is going to be hot one day, someone is going to be hot the next day,” said Banfield, who remained on the field after the game to visit with friends and sign autographs for kids waiting in the dugout tunnel area.
“Going back to Knoxville, we know we owe them a little something when we go there on Tuesday, so we’ll be right back at it,” he said.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios struggled in his three innings. The damage started instantly when the Smokies first two batters in the game reached on singles. Palacios then gave up back-to-back walks to first load the bases, then force in a run.
With two outs, Banfield attempt to get Jake Slaughter on a pickoff attempt. His throw was missed by third baseman Bubba Hollins and two runs scored to make it 3-0.
“I saw that we had a chance on (Slaughter),” Banfield said. “But other factors come in. Sun and eyes. My throw was a little up. If I would have thrown down we would have had him.
“It’s just one of those things. Next game, if something comes up in the same situation, we’re going to do it again. That’s the thing about it. We learn from the game and we learn from mistakes.”
The Blue Wahoos had multiple baserunners in the first and third innings, then left the bases loaded with one out in the fourth, after scoring on an error.
“They got up to the lead early, so we were fighting from behind the whole game, but at the same time, we’ve been here before and we know what’s it like to come back to fight for the lead and to scrap back for runs. They made good pitches, and we made good pitches really the whole game, too. Guys came out of the bullpen for us,and shut it down."
GAME NOTABLES
--- The Blue Wahoos honored two leaders of the Food and Beverage team, managers Kylie Dykes and Annah Lewis, for thwarting a potential theft of alcoholic beverages Friday night following the Blue Wahoos win. A phone app indicated to both women there were youths in the stadium’s warehouse area trying to steal boxes of beverages. Police were summoned, arrived immediately, and the youths were arrested.
Dykes and Lewis both threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
--- Following the game, children ran the bases and families played catch in the outfield as part of the final “Family Sunday” of the season, co-sponsored by StepOne Automotive and WKRG News-5.
WANT TO FOLLOW?
WHAT: Game 2 Southern League Championship Series
WHO: Tennessee Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. (CDT)
WHERE: Smokies Stadium, Kodak, Tennessee
RADIO: ESPN Pensacola (101.1 FM and 1330 AM)
LIVE STREAM: www.milb.com/live-stream-games
FORMAT: Best of 3 Series. If a deciding Game 3 is necessary, it will be played Wednesday at 6:15 (CDT) in Tennessee. .
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring