Tag Archives: Pensacola Blue Wahoos

by | April 8, 2013 · 10:57 pm

Smokies Fall 2-1 in Rubber Game in Pensacola

Dae-Eun Rhee went 4.2 innings allowing just one run on two hits in a no-decision. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover

Dae-Eun Rhee went 4.2 innings allowing just one run on two hits in a no-decision. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover

In his first start in AA, Daniel Renken yielded one run over seven innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos won the final game of the series over the Tennessee Smokies 2-1 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.  The Smokies managed just one hit in the final five innings of the contest.

Renken (1-0) scattered four hits and two walks with five strikeouts for the win in his first start.  Lee Hyde, in his first outing since receiving the loss on Saturday, threw a perfect top of the 9th for the save.  Dae-Eun Rhee (0-1) suffered the loss for the Smokies lasting 4.1 innings allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts.

Justin Bour’s third run batted in of the season gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st.  Matt Szczur singled, advanced to third on a single by Arismendy Alcantara, and scored on Bour’s sacrifice fly to put the Smokies in front.

Pensacola rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the 5th and take the lead in the bottom of the 6th.  With the bases loaded and one out in the 5th, Devin Lohman singled to left field to knot the game at 1-1.  They took the lead at 2-1 in the 6th inning courtesy of a Travis Mattair RBI double that scored Donald Lutz.

The Smokies return home for their home opener on Wednesday night at 7:15 PM to begin a series with the Chattanooga Lookouts.  Tennessee sends right-hander Dallas Beeler (0-1, 6.75 ERA) to the mound against Chattanooga righty Zach Lee (0-0, 2.25 ERA) at Smokies  Park.

The Pilot/Oscar Mayer Pregame Show begins at 7:00 p.m. on the  flagship station WNML, the Smokies team website, and the Tennessee Smokies app with studio hosts Danny Will and Michael Wottreng.  Mick Gillispie and Danny Will  have the first pitch live from Smokies Park at 7:15 p.m.

Audio Recap: Blue Wahoos 2 Smokies 1

Danny Will is a Senior Broadcast Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Danny on Twitter here: @DannyWillSays

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by | · 1:16 pm

What We’re Reading (4/8/13)

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

Justin Bour slides past Blue Wahoos catcher Tucker Barnhart on Sunday. Photo Courtesy: Bruce Graner

Justin Bour slides past Blue Wahoos catcher Tucker Barnhart on Sunday. Photo Courtesy: Bruce Graner

PHOTO GALLERY: Blue Wahoos vs. Smokies
Pensacola News Journal

Number 2 Pick Coming into Focus for Cubs’ Hoyer
Patrick Mooney / CSNChicago.com

“We’ve been really open about the fact that we need a lot more pitching in the organization, whether that comes at the second pick or not,” Hoyer said Saturday at Turner Field. “We’re really very open to taking a hitter at No. 2. But I think it’s a safe bet we’re going to pound away at pitching throughout the draft, like we did last year.”

Jeff Samardzija’s 13 Strikeout Game a Key Piece to Wrigley Renovation Plan
Patrick Mooney / CSNChicago.com

Samardzija flirted with Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout pace before slowly unraveling in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves that swept the Cubs out of Turner Field. He was animated and intense but said it had nothing to do with feeling the pressure of working with almost no margin for error.

Ricketts: Renovation of Wrigley Best Option to Compete 
David Kaplan / CSNChicago.com

“We have always considered Wrigley Field the best option for our franchise and we continue to feel that way,” he said. “I appreciate the efforts of the mayor and the alderman to work with us, and we have agreed to continue the process that we hope will result in us preserving Wrigley Field for the long haul while also giving our players and fans the amenities that we need to compete and they deserve to have when they attend a game.”

Cubs Players Excited About Cubs Renovation Plans
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times

“You kind of fall in love with the place as it is right now as a player, especially the way you enter the clubhouse, the way you leave the clubhouse, the way you go to the dugout and things like that,” Samardzija said, “and you know that’ll all be different. That’s the way things go sometimes.”

Cubs Name Fujukawa Closer After Marmol Falters
Patrick Mooney / CSNChicago.com

“That’s one reason we signed him – in case something like this happens,” Sveum said. “He’s been (the guy) in Japan (who) has done it many, many times. He’s comfortable in getting those last three outs.

Michael Wottreng is a Broadcast and Multimedia Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Michael on Twitter here: @MWottreng

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by | April 7, 2013 · 8:48 pm

Pensacola Plays Long Ball for Second Win of the Season

Justin Bour went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover

Justin Bour went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover

Donald Lutz hit a decisive three-run home run in the 5th inning as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos held on to defeat the Tennessee Smokies by the final score of 5-4. All five of Pensacola’s runs came on two extra-base hits, their first extra-base hits since opening night.

Tennessee rallied in the top of the 9th but came up a run short.  Jae-Hoon Ha singled home Matt Szczur that brought the Smokies within a run, but Jonathan Mota grounded out with the tying run at second base and the go-ahead run at first.

Pensacola jumped on Smokies righty Kyle Hendricks right away with two runs in the bottom of the 1st.  With two outs, Steve Selsky doubled to deep center field to bring in Ray Chang and Bryson Smith for a Blue Wahoo 2-0 lead.

The Smokies responded with two runs of their own in the top of the 3rd to knot the game up at 2-2.  Justin Bour doubled in Ha to cut the deficit to one and Mota followed with an RBI single to score Bour and tie the game.

Lutz put the Blue Wahoos back on top with the team’s first home run since opening night in the bottom of the 5th.  With Chang and Smith on the base paths again, Lutz connected with his second home run of the season to deep right field to give Pensacola a 5-2 advantage.

Jay Fernandez brought the Smokies a run closer at 5-3 in the top of the 8th with a two-out, RBI double to score Eliot Soto.

Ryan Dennick (1-0) earned the win for the Blue Wahoos pitching the first five innings scattering two runs on four hits.  In his first start in AA, Hendricks took the loss for the Smokies.  He surrendered five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts.

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos finish their five-game series tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends right-hander Dae-Eun Rhee (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Pensacola righty Daniel Renken (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The Pilot/Oscar Mayer Pregame Show begins at 7:45 on the  flagship station WNML, the Smokies team website, and the Tennessee Smokies app with studio hosts Danny Will and Michael Wottreng.  Mick Gillispie  has the first pitch live from Pensacola at 8 p.m.

Audio Recap: Pensacola 5 Smokies 4

Danny Will is a Senior Broadcast Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Danny on Twitter here: @DannyWillSays

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by | April 6, 2013 · 11:55 pm

Smokies Erupt for Eight Runs in the 12th to Defeat Blue Wahoos

Rafael Lopez started the rally in the 12th and drove in two runs later in the inning. Photo Courtesy: Shari Sommerfeld/MiLB.com

Rafael Lopez started the rally in the 12th and drove in two runs later in the inning. Photo Courtesy: Shari Sommerfeld/MiLB.com

After a pitcher’s duel for eleven innings, the Tennessee Smokies erupted for eight runs in the top of the 12th inning to take down the Pensacola Blue Wahoos by the final score of 9-1.  The Smokies move above .500 for the first time this season.

Tennessee (2-1) sent 14 batters to the plate in their eight-run top of the 12th.  Matt Szczur gave the Smokies the lead with a two-run single that scored Rafael Lopez and Eliot Soto to make it 3-1.  Two batters later, Jae-Hoon Ha delivered a two-run single of his own to double the lead to 5-1.  After a run came in via a hit batter, Lopez knocked a two-run double to right field in his second at bat of the inning to make it 8-1 Smokies.  Szczur’s second RBI single of the inning pushed the lead to 9-1 and capped off the eight-run top of the 12th.

The Smokies bullpen fired five scoreless innings of relief and Frank Batista (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless frames.  Lee Hyde (0-1) took the loss allowing seven runs, five of them earned, in two-thirds of an inning.

Starters Eric Jokisch and Tim Crabbe both began strong matching scoreless half innings, but the Blue Wahoos finally broke through with the games first run in the bottom of the 4th.  With Ryan LaMarre at second base with two outs, Steve Selsky singled up the middle to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 advantage.

The Pensacola lead was short lived as Rubi Silva’s first home run of the season tied the game in the top of the 5th with a solo home run to deep left field.

Both starters yielded just the one run apiece and did not factor in the decision.  Jokisch scattered three hits and walked two while striking out seven Pensacola batters.  Crabbe went the first five innings for the Blue Wahoos allowing his one run on two hits with five strikeouts.

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos continue their five-game series tomorrow night at 5:05 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Pensacola lefty Ryan Dennick (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The Pilot/Oscar Mayer Pregame Show begins at 4:45 on the  flagship station WNML, the Smokies team website, and the Tennessee Smokies app with studio hosts Danny Will and Michael Wottreng.  Mick Gillispie  has the first pitch live from Pensacola at 5 p.m.

Audio Recap: April 6th: Smokies 9 Blue Wahoos 1

Danny Will is a Senior Broadcast Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Danny on Twitter here: @DannyWillSays

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by | April 5, 2013 · 11:51 pm

Villanueva Drives in Four to Propel Smokies to First Victory of 2013

Christian Villanueva went 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs in the Smokies first victory. Photo Courtesy: Robert Gurganus/Four Seam Images/AP Images

Christian Villanueva went 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs in the Smokies first victory. Photo Courtesy: Robert Gurganus/Four Seam Images/AP Images

Christian Villanueva tallied three hits and four runs batted in as the Tennessee Smokies picked up their first win of the season downing the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8-2 at Pensacaola Bay Front Stadium.  The Smokies tallied twelve hits on the night and eight of the nine starters registered at least one base hit.

Tennessee jumped on Pensacola starter Josh Smith right away in the top of the first.  With two outs, Villanueva singled up the middle to bring home Matt Szczur for a 1-0 Smokies lead.

Pensacola responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to move in front.  David Vidal tied the game with an RBI groundout and Brodie Greene followed that with a two-out, RBI single to put the Blue Wahoos up 2-1.

The Smokies exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth to regain the lead for good.  Jonathan Mota started the five-run rally with a leadoff double and he scored on a Jay Fernandez RBI double that tied the game at 2-2.  After Fernandez scored on a fielder’s choice, Jae-Hoon Ha, Justin Bour, and Villanueva all delivered two-out, RBI hits to extend the Tennessee advantage to 6-2.

Villanueva tacked on two more runs for the Smokies in the top of the eighth inning with a two-out, two-run double to score Ha and Bour and put Tennessee in front 8-2.  All four of Villanueva’s RBIs came with two outs and the Smokies totaled six two-out runs in the ballgame.

In addition to Villanueva’s strong offensive night, Ha finished 3-for-5 with two runs while Szczur and Bour also scored twice in the contest.

In his first start since September of 2011, Alberto Cabrera picked up the victory for the Smokies.  Cabrera (1-0) went the first six innings allowing just two runs while striking out nine batters, one short of his career high.  Smith (0-1) was saddled with the loss surrendering six earned runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings.

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos continue their five-game series tomorrow night at 7:35 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends left-hander Eric Jokisch (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Pensacola righty Tim Crabbe (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Pensacola Bay Front Stadium.

The Pilot/Oscar Mayer Pregame Show begins at 7:15 on the  flagship station WNML and on the Smokies team website with studio hosts Danny Will and Michael Wottreng.  Mick Gillispie  has the first pitch live from Pensacola at 7:30.

Audio Recap: April 5th Smokies 8 Blue Wahoos 2

Danny Will is a Senior Broadcast Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Danny on Twitter here: @DannyWillSays

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by | April 4, 2013 · 11:33 pm

Blue Wahoos Use Long Ball to Top Smokies in 2013 Opener

Matt Szczur went 3-for-4 in the Smokies season opener with a run scored. Photo Courtesy: Bleacher Nation

Matt Szczur went 3-for-4 in the Smokies season opener with a run scored. Photo Courtesy: Bleacher Nation

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos hit four solo home runs en route to a 7-3 opening night victory over the Tennessee Smokies at Bayfront Stadium.   Tonight’s loss marks the first opening night loss for the Smokies since the 2010 season.

Pensacola (1-0) opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. In his first at bat in the Southern League, Travis Mattair broke the scoreless tie with a solo shot to left field to make it 1-0 Blue Wahoos.

But the Smokies (0-1) battled right back in the top of the third for their first lead as Arismendy Alcantara connected on a two-run home run, his first of the year, to put the Smokies on top 2-1.

The lead did not last long as Bryson Smith’s solo shot in the home half of the third inning tied the game at 2-2.  Pensacola retook the lead in the fourth at 4-2 thanks to a solo home run by Tucker Barnhart and an RBI groundout by Ryan LaMarre.

Donald Lutz delivered the fourth solo home run of the night in the bottom of the seventh as he took A.J. Morris out of the yard to left field to increase the Pensacola lead to 5-2.

Alcantara picked up his third RBI of the night with a single that scored Eliot Soto to bring within two at 5-3.  Later in the inning, Justin Bour flied out to deep right field to end the inning with the runners on second and third.

Pensacola added two, unearned insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put it out of reach.  Devin Lohman lined a two-run single to right-center field scoring Brodie Greene and Steve Selsky to push the lead to 7-3.

Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win going the first five innings yielding two runs on four hits while striking out four.  Dallas Beeler (0-1) suffered the loss allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings.

The Smokies and Blue Wahoos continue their five-game series on Friday night at 8:05 p.m. ET when Tennessee sends right-hander Alberto Cabrera (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Pensacola righty Josh Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Pensacola Bay Front Stadium.

Audio Recap: April 4, 2013: Blue Wahoos 7 Smokies 3

Danny Will is a Senior Broadcast Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Danny on Twitter here: @DannyWillSays

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by | · 10:37 am

What We’re Reading (04/04/13)

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

Plenty of experience on Smokies 2013 roster

Adam Greene / Knoxville News-Sentinal

Opening Day is here for the Tennessee Smokies and the rest of the Southern League. The Smokies announced their roster Tuesday and it features 17 returning Smokies.

Rogers earns start in opener

Brady Aymond / Pensacola News Journal

On Opening Day, the Smokies will face Pensacola Blue Wahoos pitcher Chad Rogers. In 2012, Rogers had a 9-5 record with a 2.90 ERA and struck out 111 batters. But starting on Opening Day probably doesn’t compare to the shark attack that Rogers endured in 2010.

Pitcher Edwin Jackson made his first start in a Cubs uniform but recorded a loss to the Pirates. Photo courtesy: AP.

Listless offense spoils Jackson’s debut

Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Cubs’ offense seemed to be slowed by the cold  Wednesday night in a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Edwin Jackson made his first start as a Cub and pitched five innings, allowing one earned run.

An overhead view of Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, the site of the Smokies’ Opening Day. Photo courtesy: milb.com.

Ballparks of the Southern League

Have you ever wondered what the stadiums that the Smokies play look like when they are on the road?  With this slideshow from the Southern League website, you can see what all the Southern League ballparks look like, including the site of tonight’s match-up Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

D-backs outlast Cards on Pennington’s walk-off

Tyler Emerick / MLB.com

An 16-inning affair ended with a Cliff Pennington single up the middle and an Arizona Diamondback 10-9 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Relief pitcher Josh Collmenter pitched the final five innings, just one day after pitching 1 2/3 innings.

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by | April 1, 2013 · 12:33 pm

What We’re Reading (4/1/13)

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

Penascola boasts seven of the top 30 prospects in the Cincinnati Reds' organization. Photo Courtesy: @BlueWahoosBBall

Penascola boasts seven of the top 30 prospects in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization. Photo Courtesy: @BlueWahoosBBall

Penascola Blue Wahoos Announce 2013 Opening Day Roster

This year’s preliminary roster features seven players ranked in the top 30 of Baseball America‘s annual organizational prospect rankings (rank in parentheses). Returning right-handed pitcher Kyle Lotzkar (12th) is the highest-rated prospect and is joined in the top 30 by outfielder Donald Lutz (18th), outfielder Ryan LaMarre (21st), catcher Tucker Barnhart (23rd), infield Devin Lohman (25th), and pitchers Curtis Partch (27th)and Chad Rogers (28th). Barnhart, rated the organization’s best defensive catcher, is expected to be behind the plate for Opening Day with Rogers projected to be the other half of the battery.

A Scout Looks at the Cubs Roster
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times

Starlin Castro, SS: ‘‘I thought he played well this spring, didn’t make any mistakes. I think he’s been pressured by [Javy] Baez. I think he knows, even with the big contract, he’s got to [step up]. He’s maturing. . . . He made some silly mistakes [in recent years], but I think he’s growing up now. This spring, I was impressed defensively. He made the plays, wasn’t overthrowing the ball, showed good lateral [movement]. He and Barney are a great combo.’’

Breaking Down the Cubs Opening Day 25
Patrick Mooney / CSNChicago.com

The Cubs are waiting for reinforcements, hoping Matt Garza (lat) and Scott Baker(elbow) can join the rotation before it’s too late, wondering if Ian Stewart (quad) will get healthy and finally prove he’s an everyday third baseman. They absolutely need to get off to a good start if they want to make this an interesting summer.

Darwin Barney Injured in Final Spring Game
Associated Press

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Barney received five stitches on his left knee from the spill, and that he definitely wouldn’t play in Chicago’s opener Monday. The cut is on his knee cap, and Barney said it was so deep he could “pretty much see my bone.”

Separated by just over an hour train ride, Chicago and Milwaukee fans have developed quite the rivalry. Photo Courtesy: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Separated by just over an hour train ride, Chicago and Milwaukee fans have developed quite the rivalry. Photo Courtesy: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Mark Your Calendars for These Cubs Games
Tony Andracki / CSNChicago.com

April 8: Cubs vs. Milwaukee

The home opener. Wrigley Field will once again be packed with Cubs faithful. A 101-loss 2012 may turn some fans away initially, but if the weather is anything like we’ve gotten in Chicago lately (50 degrees has seemed almost like summer given the crazy and late winter we had), you can rest assured the stands will be full.

Opening Day for the Cubs is Always Something Interesting
Luke Stuckmeyer / CSNChicago.com

Opening Day always seems to bring some sort of “Cubbie Occurrence.” Who could forget Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes smacking three homers off Dwight Gooden in 1994? The Cubs still lost the game.

Michael Wottreng is a Broadcast and Multimedia Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Michael on Twitter here: @MWottreng

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by | February 3, 2012 · 1:07 pm

Around the Southern League (2/3)

Artist rendering of Regions Field in Birmingham, which will open in April 2013. Photo Courtesy: Birmingham Barons

Hey Smokies Fans!

The start of February means that baseball season is only getting closer. Minor league baseball teams across the country are gearing up for the 2012 season, and many of our friends in the Southern League have had some exciting news over this past week.

This post marks the first of many “Around the Southern League” features this season where the Smokies Radio Network will highlight stories of interest from around the league. We hope you enjoy this look at what’s going on in the Southern League, and continue to check back for more information on the upcoming 2012 season!

- MLB.com: Barons’ new park coined Regions Field
- AL.com: Hundreds gather for Birmingham baseball park groundbreaking (slideshow and videos)
- AL.com: Ex-Braves star Dale Murphy to serve as VIP of 17th Annual Rickwood Classic
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos: Building a Ballpark: The Field (Video)
- Pensacola News Journal: Wahoos stadium lights up
- Jackson Generals: Compton Named Generals New GM

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