Blue Wahoos Get Unbelievable Third Walkoff In 'Never Seen Anything Like It' Ending

The Blue Wahoos incredibly did it again Sunday, this time in a way you could never make up.

They produced a third consecutive, comeback, walk-off win against the Biloxi Shuckers, without getting a hit in the ninth inning, or even putting the ball in play for three runs in a 7-6 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Yes, this happened.

One day after pulling off a 4-run rally to get the previous walk-off win, they absorbed four body shots from errant pitches to force in the three runs.

“This is crazy. I have never seen anything like it,” said Blue Wahoos shortstop Luis Aviles Jr., who scored the game-winning run on a hit batter – the fourth consecutive batter plunked by Biloxi reliever Harold Chirino.

“It’s the first time I have ever been part of a walk-off like that, four hit-by-pitches,” said Aviles Jr., who had three hits in the game and several big defensive stops.-

“Especially against a guy who has been doing well in this league,” he said.

Chirino had loaded the bases by hitting Aviles. That followed a walk to Griffin Conine that moved over leadoff batter Troy Johnston, who led off the inning by reaching on a throwing error.

Chirino, a fifth-year pro, who had a 12-inning scoreless streak earlier this season and allowed just one walk in his last six appearances, suddenly could not control pitches.

In succession, he struck Ray-Patrick Didder, Cobie Fletcher-Vance and finally Bubba Hollins to end the game and ignite another Blue Wahoos ice bath and on-field melee of joy.,

The Blue Wahoos (25-21), who further increased their Southern League division lead, trailed 6-1 in the fifth inning before chipping away to trail just 6-4 in the ninth inning.

“That was incredible,” said Blue Wahoos reliever Dylan Bice, who earned the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to keep his team in striking distance.

“This is my seventh year in Minor League Baseball and I have never seen anything like it,” he said.

The win was the Blue Wahoos fifth win against Biloxi in the six-game series – four of which were walk-off wins -- and pushed their first-place lead to 3.5 games against the Shuckers and Mississippi Braves.

It’s the same place the Blue Wahoos stood back on May 18 after a seventh straight win and before the rest of that road series against the Montgomery Biscuits was canceled due to Covid-19 issues with the Biscuits team.

A week ago, the M-Braves took five of six games from the Blue Wahoos in Pensacola to take over first place.

What a difference a week makes

“This team is very scrappy,” Bice said. “Pitchers and hitters, we’re different, but we’re not different. This team we’ve all been together. It’s never been about one side.

“With this team, one side picks up the other side, and when that happens, you get four walk-offs.”

The game ended a stretch of 12 games in 13 days at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It’s the only time this season the Blue Wahoos will stage that many games together.

The team will take Monday off and travel later that evening to Birmingham, where they begin a series against the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday.

GAME NOTABLES

--- First baseball Troy Johnston, the hottest hitter in all levels of professional baseball, continued his pace by going 1-for-4 Sunday and reaching base three times on a walk and error. He finished the 6-game series against Biloxi by going 15-for-24 (.625 average) with four homers, a triple, two doubles and 11 RBI.

--- The Blue Wahoos 3.5 game division lead comes with 18 games remaining in the first half of the season. They will close the half with a series on the road against Biloxi which may determine the first-half South Division winner.

--- By reaching base on his ninth-inning walk, Griffin Conine has now reached base in 25 consecutive games, going all the way back to April 29. He went 0-for-4 prior to the walk, but is batting .274 on the season.

--- After the game, the remaining crowd among the 4,235 at Blue Wahoos Stadium stayed to have kids run the bases and families play catch in the outfield. And many of the Blue Wahoos players remained on the field to sign autographs. It was part of Family Sunday sponsored by WKRG-News 5 and StepOne Automotive Group.

--- Among the groups in attendance were the Navarre High baseball team, which had a 250-member group outing in sections 113-115.

--- There were four youth baseball teams recognized on the field: Orange Beach (Alabama) 12-Under Makos, Navarre Youth Sports Association 6-Under Phillies, the Milton Panthers White and the Jackson All Stars. All had players run out with Blue Wahoos starters in pregame introductions.

WHAT'S NEXT?

WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Birmingham Barons

WHEN: Tuesday (June 7) through Sunday (June 12).

WHERE: Regions Field, Birmingham, Alabama.

TICKETS: Online at www.barons.com/tickets.

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

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

NEXT HOMESTAND: Begins on June 14 vs. Tennessee Smokies.