Blue Wahoos Rally For, 4-1, Win

PENSACOLA, Fla., - Pensacola Blue Wahoos Josh VanMeter wasn't expected to play every day in the Southern League when he turned out to be "the player to be named later" in a trade between the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres at the end of 2016.

However, the 22-year-old has proven indispensable to the Blue Wahoos team. He has played second base, shortstop, third base and left field and with two outs and runners in scoring position he's the hitter Pensacola wants a t the plate.
Against the Biloxi Shuckers Wednesday, VanMeter delivered the decisive two-out, two-run double in the four-run eighth inning that gave Pensacola a, 4-1, victory in front of 4,358 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
VanMeter said he thrives in the clutch and his hitting statistics bear that out. The .259 hitter's average balloons to .378 with the game on the line. The new Reds pick up has driven in 23 of his 39 RBIs in that position.
"When I think of good players, I think of clutch players," VanMeter said. "It shows I'm able to control myself, even in pressure situations."
Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel hit a high pop up to Biloxi second baseman Blake Allemand, who instead of making the catch to end the inning and preserve the Biloxi lead, 1-0, kept the rally going when it plopped to the ground. The unexplainable error allowed Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan to knot the game, 1-1.
Blue Wahoos first baseman Gavin LaValley then hit a bullet to left field that drove in center fielder Gabriel Guerrero with the go-ahead run, 2-1.
That's when VanMeter stepped to the plate and delivered his double to the left center gap that scored Senzel from second base and LaValley from first to increase Pensacola's lead to 4-1 heading into the ninth.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly is a big fan of VanMeter, who recalled hitting a buzzer beating jumper in the Indiana high school basketball 3A Regionals to upset the tournament favorite.
"His hit gives us a three-run lead and gives (closer Zack) Weiss a little wiggle room," Kelly said.
Blue Wahoos reliever Carlos González also played a pivotal role in the win that improved Pensacola's record to 16-16 in the second half and back into a first-place tie with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern Division. The first half champions are 56-46 overall.
In the seventh inning, the Shuckers loaded the bases on a bunt single, sharp grounder to right field and a swinging bunt single with one out off Blue Wahoos starter Jesús Reyes.
Then rain poured down and delayed the game for 33 minutes, until it resumed at 9:18 p.m. It was the second rain delay of the game with the start pushed back 30 minutes.
When the game started again, Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez entered and got a pop out and strikeout to end the Biloxi scoring threat. His 1.2 innings with one strikeout improved his record in 14 relief appearances to 1-1 with a 1.90 ERA.
"That was a fantastic job," Kelly said. "Those were five big outs for us."
Biloxi scored in the first inning, going on top, 1-0, when leadoff batter Johnny Davis hit a grounder up the middle into center field, stole second base and reached third on an infield single by left fielder Angel Ortega deep in the hole to shortstop. Davis finally scored on Allemand's soft line drive single to the opposite field.
Biloxi starter Jon Perrin threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out five.
"Every team we play is that way," Kelly said. "They run those good arms at you every night."
GAME NOTES The Pensacola Blue Wahoos play the third game of a five-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers at 6:35 p.m. Thursday. The Shuckers are starting RHP Freddy Peralta (1-2, 2.76) against the Blue Wahoos RHP Deck McGuire (8-7, 2.65).
The games are broadcast live on the Blue Wahoos flagship station 97.1 The Ticket. Listen for free at bluewahoos.com and by using the TuneIn Radio app on your mobile, desktop or home devices.
You can watch the home games live or tape delayed on Cox Sports Television Monday through Thursday on Channel 319. Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are broadcast live on BLAB-TV.
BIG FISH Left fielder Josh VanMeter is 17-45 or .378 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season. He was 1-4 with his 23rd double and two RBIs...First baseman Gavin LaValley was 2-4, scored a run and drove in a run...Shortstop Blake Trahan started the two-out rally in the eighth with a single to right field and was 1-4 with a run scored...Center fielder Gabriel Guerrero was 1-3 with a run scored.
DAWKINS FALL LEAGUE COACH Pensacola Blue Wahoos hitting coach Travis "Gookie" Dawkins was selected to be the Arizona Fall League hitting coach for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Dawkins is in his third season with the Cincinnati Reds organization and his first with Pensacola.
The league, which began in 1992, features six teams loaded with elite young prospects from every Major League team.
The 37-year-old Dawkins played professional baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for 15 years between 1997 and 2011, including parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Reds and Kansas City Royals. He was chosen in the second round of the 1997 draft by the Reds.
The Scorpions manager is Tate High School graduate Jay Bell, who played professional baseball for 18 years. This season Bell was named manager of the High-A Tampa Yankees.
Tickets to the 2017 playoffs are now on sale! Purchase tickets online at bluewahoos.com, visiting the Box Office or calling 850-934-8444. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Southern League. Follow the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
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