After Scramble To Fill Lineup, Blue Wahoos Drop Second Game To Shuckers 

The Blue Wahoos began the day faced with an unexpected, two-fold challenge.

Scheduled starting pitcher A.J. Ladwig was scratched due to illness. Catcher-designated hitter Paul McIntosh wasn’t able to play, either.

The effects played out in Wednesday’s game.

The Biloxi Shuckers took advantage of erratic defense to score four runs in the second inning, then tacked on four more in later innings for an 8-2 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Shuckers, who are ending their season this week as the hottest team in the Southern League. The Blue Wahoos dropped their second game of this final homestand and will need to lean on their bullpen even more the rest of this week.

Four relievers pitched-by-committee Wednesday, beginning with starter Andrew McInvale (2-3), who had a rocky second inning that became decisive. The Shuckers scored four runs, which were set up by two walks, two wild pitches, three stolen bases, an error and just two hits.

McInvale was lifted after three innings. He had thrown more than 50 pitches in the first two innings.

In the fourth inning, the Shuckers made it 6-0 with one swing off first reliever Zach Leban, following a one-out walk and two-run homer by Nick Kahle.

The Blue Wahoos J.D. Osborne, who filled in for McIntosh and co-starter Will Banfield behind the plate, had a pair of hits, including a one-out home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nasim Nunez went 3-for-4 for Pensacola’s second multi-hit batter.

An outfield throwing error that followed Nunez hit enabled Thomas Jones to score from first base. Jones singled to start the inning.

The Shuckers bullpen then shut down the Blue Wahoos the rest of the way, retiring 15 of the final 16 batters in the last half of the game. The only hit in the last four innings was a leadoff single from Davis Bradshaw in the seventh inning.

The teams will continue their six-game series on Thursday with Patrick Monteverde on the mound.

BLUE WAHOOS HOMESTAND

WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

GAMETIMES: Games on Thursday and Friday begin at 6:35 p.m; Saturday’s game is 6:05 p.m. and Sunday is 4:05 p.m.

TICKETS: Available online at www.bluewahoos.com. Or by visiting Blue Wahoos main box office at stadium during normal business hours.

RADIO: ESPN-Pensacola (99.1 FM and 1330 AM and WYCT 98.7 HD4).

TV: MILB.tv (streaming) through www.milb.com/live-stream-games with subscription discount using BLUE WAHOOS.

PROMOTIONS: Thursday: Mullet Thursday. The Blue Wahoos will wear Pensacola Mullets uniforms and it will also be Thirsty Thursday with drink specials.

Friday: Giveaway Friday: The first 2,000 fans will receive a special bobblehead of Watson & Watson – Bubba Watson and the Blue Wahoos service-dog-in-training named for the world renown golf star.

Saturday: Fireworks Saturday. The final fireworks show of the 2022 season at Blue Wahoos Stadium begins the 10th anniversary weekend.. In addition, the Blue Wahoos will have an in-game auction for their Sunday pink jerseys worn the last two years.

Sunday: Family Sunday.. There will be special presentations in honor of the 10-year history of the franchise, along