Wahoos Fall In Game One Of Playoffs 5-2 In Montgomery

The Blue Wahoos received strong outings on mound from four pitchers in the opener of the 2022 Southern League Playoffs in Montgomery against the Montgomery Biscuits, but a trio of solo home runs helped hand Pensacola a 5-2 loss.

Former Blue Wahoos outfielder Kameron Misner shined against them Tuesday night, smashing a pair of solo home runs that followed a near one-hour rain delay and led Biscuits to their victory against the Blue Wahoos in game one of their series at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium.

The best-of-three series now shifts to Pensacola where the Blue Wahoos will try Thursday to keep their playoff hopes intact to extend the series. Eury Perez, the top prospect in the Miami Marlins organization, will be on the mound for the Blue Wahoos as the scheduled starter.

First pitch on Thursday will be 6:05, a half hour earlier than Blue Wahoos weekday games this season. A deciding game, if necessary, will be Friday at 6:05 p.m.

Misner, who was rated the Marlins No. 21 overall prospect by MLB pipeline a year ago, was traded by the Marlins to the Tampa Bay Rays organization in exchange for Rays infielder Joey Wendle, a 2021 MLB All-Star. Misner played in 14 games for the Blue Wahoos at the end of last season, batting .309, including seven doubles and a home run.

Prior to Tuesday, his last home run this season came August 5 against the Blue Wahoos. He stepped to the plate following a 51-minute rain delay as the Biscuits leadoff batter in the third inning. He launched the second pitch from reliever Josan Mendez over the left field wall to give the Biscuits a 3-2 lead.

He then smashed a one-out pitch in the fifth inning from Chandler Jozwiak to extend the lead. In the first inning, Montgomery leadoff batter Brett Wisely hit a solo homer.

The Biscuits bullpen did the rest. Four relievers combined to throw five shutout innings as Montgomery won an opening playoff series game for the third consecutive year. They extended this season’s matchup edge against the Blue Wahoos to 16-10.

But the Blue Wahoos had opportunities throughout the game.

After getting retired in order in the first inning, they had baserunners in every inning. In the eighth, Norel Gonzalez, who had tied the game with his 2-run single in the top of the third inning – moments before a rainstorm hit – led off the late inning with a shot off the left field fence. But he opted not to slide into second base and was tagged out on a perfect throw from left fielder Jordan Qsar.

A.J. Ladwig, who led the Blue Wahoos among starters with the most wins (8) had rough night before the weather hit. He gave up three hits, two runs and a career-high four walks. Ladwig had yielded just seven walks combined in all other starts this season.

Mendez, Jozwiak and Robinson Martinez followed Ladwig and gave up just four hits combined in six innings. They had five strikeouts and just three walks.'

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Southern League South Division Playoffs

WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Game 2 is Thursday at 6:05 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

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

LIVE STREAM: Available on MILB.TV through www.milb.com., or follow live stats on www.bluewahoos.com.

TICKETS: Single-game playoff tickets are available for both Thursday and Friday games in Pensacola at www.bluewahoos.com/tickets, or by visiting stadium box office during business hours.