Mack Attacks With Bat, Arm As Blue Wahoos Bounce Back To Beat M-Braves

Pensacola, Fla. - This was not a walk-off win, but it was one Thursday night deemed by Joe Mack’s teammates worthy of a celebratory, post-game ice water dousing.

After all, the Blue Wahoos catcher had a starring role with multiple exclamations.

Mack smacked the go-ahead run on a solo homer in the sixth inning, then threw out the Mississippi Braves’ speedy Geraldo Quintero in the game’s biggest defensive play in the eighth, as Pensacola held on for a 4-3 victory on Mullet Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Taking on their alternate identity on Thursdays as the Pensacola Mullets, the win was a bounce back moment from Wednesday’s rough 14-6 loss and provided a good vibe in the home clubhouse, following the two losses to start this series.

“This win was a good one. It was a big win, getting back in the win column,” said Mack, after toweling off from the teammates’ bucket splash during his on-field interview. “And not giving in from previous days, continuing to go every single day and try and do our best.

“When we have games like today, we have a lot of fun. I love playing these games and enjoy the game in general.”

Mack went 3-for-4 to continue a hot bat this week. He’s now 7-for-12 in this series with a pair of home runs. Equally important, he threw out two M-Braves baserunners.

The one in the eighth inning followed a leadoff walk by first baseman Bryson Horne. Quintero got a great jump on his steal attempt as pinch-runner, but Mack’s throw was a perfect laser on the inside part of the bag that beat Quintero’s slide by a split-second as shortstop Harrison Spohn applied the tag.

It made an easier situation for reliever Zach McCambley, who followed that second out by getting Cade Bunnell on a lineout to left field to end the inning.

In the ninth, Blue Wahoos reliever Anderson Pilar earned his first save by throwing a perfectly placed fastball on the inside corner to strike out the M-Braves’ catcher Drake Baldwin to end the game.

Pensacola hit three homers in this game to account for the runs. In the third inning, Jacob Marsee drew a two-out walk, then stole second and third base.

Designated hitter Paul McIntosh then blasted a changeup deep over the left center fence for a 2-1 lead.

Zach Zubia led off the fourth inning with a homer to make it 3-1. The M-Braves tied the game against Pensacola starter Evan Fitterer on a two-run triple in the fifth by Cody Milligan.

But Mack’s homer enabled Fitterer to pick up his fifth win on a night where he battled through six innings, striking out seven, but issuing four walks and allowing seven hits.

“It was a big win. I had a good part in it, but it wasn’t all me,” said Mack, who joined the team in late April from the Beloit (Wisc.) Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins High-A affiliate. “And my teammates really battled. A couple of good homers by Paul and Zubia.

“This team is awesome. We have bunch of great guys and we’re not quitters, so if we lose one game or two games it doesn’t matter. We will find a way to win the next one.”

GAME NOTABLES

--- The Blue Wahoos are now 4-2 this season wearing the Pensacola Mullets uniforms.

--- The team will try and even the series on a Giveaway Friday with fans receiving a decorative retro-style poster designed by Anthony Aspenson, the Blue Wahoos vice president for creative services and marketing in sponsorship with Bubba’s Sweet Spot.

--- David Ott, who has a minority share in the Miami Marlins ownership with majority owner Bruce Sherman, has attended games this week at Blue Wahoos Stadium and joined Blue Wahoos broadcaster Erik Bremer for a mid-game interview.

--- Jessica Voigt, a group sales trainee, continued her role as a frequent National Anthem singer by delivering another crowd-cheering rendition Thursday night.

WANT TO GO?

WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Friday, 6:05 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

PROMOTIONS: Giveaway Friday. Fans entering the ballpark with received a decorative retro style poster sponsored by Bubba’s Sweet Spot.

TICKETS: Available online at www.bluewahoos.com/tickets or at the stadium box office beginning at 10 a.m.

AUDIO BROADCAST: Available on www.bluewahoos.com/radio (Blue Wahoos broadcasters Erik Bremer and Carter Bainbridge on play-by-play) or on the MILB App.

LIVE TV: The game will be available on a video stream through Bally Live and MLB.TV (subscription required). The broadcast will also air on Blab TV in the Pensacola area.