Wahoos Weekly: Pensacola looking to bounce back with home series vs. Southern League's best

The Blue Wahoos missed a prime chance last week in Montgomery to further separate themselves in the second-half division race.

Instead, they fell back to the pack, after winning just once in the six-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits. Their once 6 1/2-game lead is now 2 1/2 games, as of Aug. 13, ahead of the Biscuits. They head into a formidable challenge this week, facing the Birmingham Barons, the Southern League’s top team, in a six-game homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

At the ballpark this week, the two biggest off-field attractions will be a drone show on Aug. 14 to follow that game and a Hawaiian shirt giveaway on Aug. 15. The Blue Wahoos hosted of first-of-its-kind drone show last year in July.

The Barons (65-43 overall), the Chicago White Sox affiliate and defending Southern League champions, have six of the top-15 prospects in the White Sox organization on this roster.

In their favor, the Blue Wahoos are 31-20 at home and six new players joining the team last week all made Double-A level debuts.

Those players are pitcher Colby Martin; infielders Payton Green, Yiddi Cappe, Eric Rataczak; and outfielder Colby Shade. All of them up from High-A, the Beloit (Wisc.) Sky Carp. Infielder Dub Greed was moved up from Class-A Jupiter.

The Blue Wahoos have had 56 different players appear in a game this season (28 pitchers, 28 position players).

Aug. 16 night’s game is scheduled to feature starting pitcher Thomas White, the Miami Marlins’ No. 1 prospect, who continues to wow with his road performances. He delivered the team’s only win, his first mound win in Double-A, against Montgomery.

A LOOK BACK

The Blue Wahoos traveled Aug. 5 to Montgomery, a short trip on the same day as the series-opening game. But when they got to the ballpark, inclement weather and field conditions led to postponement before the scheduled start time.

And that became an omen for the week. The Blue Wahoos dropped five of the six games and lost their comfortable lead in the divisional race.

A quick recap:

TUESDAY, AUG. 5: Game postponed due to inclement weather.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6: Biscuits 11, Blue Wahoos 5 – The Blue Wahoos allowed a season-high 11 runs, ending their five-game win streak. Alex Williams had his worst outing this season,, allowing eight runs on 10 hits before being lifted in the fourth inning. Four different players make their Double-A debuts, with Eric Rataczak, Colby Shade and Payton Green all collecting a hit and Colby Martin striking out two batters in a scoreless sixth inning appearance.

THURSDAY, AUG. 7: Biscuits 2, Blue Wahoos 1 / Biscuits 7, Blue Wahoos 0  – The Blue Wahoos' struggles in doubleheaders continued in this twin bill sweep. In the first game, pitcher Dax Fulton worked 5.1 innings, allowed two runs, but lacked run support. Fenwick Trimble doubled in the top of the sixth and scored on a Kemp Alderman double play grounder for a 1-0 Blue Wahoos lead. Cooper Kinney put the Biscuits ahead 2-1 with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth that proved to be the game-winner. In the second game, the Biscuits scored seven runs on 10 hits as the Blue Wahoos were swept for the sixth time this season in doubleheaders. 

FRIDAY, AUG. 8: Biscuits 7, Blue Wahoos 2 – Cody Morissette produced a two-run single in the first inning, but the Blue Wahoos were held scoreless the rest of the night. The Biscuits blew open the game by scoring six runs in the third inning, highlighted by a Tatem Levins inside-the-park grand slam. It was the second grand slam allowed by the Blue Wahoos this season.

SATURDAY, AUG. 9: Blue Wahoos 6, Biscuits 1 – The brilliance of Thomas White led to the Blue Wahoos' only good night of the series. He pitched a career-high six innings, including a no-hitter until two outs in the sixth. He struck out nine to get his first Double-A win. Fenwick Trimble broke a scoreless tie in the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Spencer Bramwell capped a four-run seventh with a three-run homer. Eric Rataczak was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles. Will Kempner extended his scoreless streak to 19 innings by getting the final six outs.

SUNDAY, AUG. 10: Biscuits 3, Blue Wahoos 2 – The Biscuits got a two-out, two-run single by in the sixth inning that proved to be decisive in the series finale Montgomery pitchers combined to retire the Blue Wahoos' final 13 batters in the game for the win. Newcomer second baseman Yiddi Cappe collected his first two RBIs since joining the Blue Wahoos with a single and a sacrifice fly.

THIS WEEK

It'll be a defining home series against a team the Blue Wahoos have struggled to match. The Barons won all six games at Blue Wahoos Stadium in their prior visit on May 20-25, becoming the first visiting team to sweep a series in Pensacola since this six-game format began in 2021. The teams split a six-game series in Birmingham in late April.

The Barons have provided the hope for the Chicago White Sox future. Birmingham won the Southern League title last year, during a season where the White Sox set the all-time MLB record for most loses (41-121) in the modern era of 160-plus game seasons. The futility surpassed the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-120 that season.

The White Sox currently have the second-worst record in MLB and on pace to lose 100-plus games for a third consecutive year.

But this Barons’ team has talent, led by the White Sox No. 1 prospect, outfielder Braden Montgomery, 22, a former star at Texas A&M. Montgomery was the Boston Red Sox first-round selection in 2024 – the 12th overall pick. In December, the Red Sox traded Montgomery, plus three other prospects to the White Sox, in exchange for Chicago’s top pitcher, Garrett Crochet.

Montgomery, this season, has climbed three levels, after advancing in both Class A levels and joining the Barons on July 29. Entering this series, he is batting .239 in his first 12 games with the Barons with one homer and one RBI. The Barons are last in the league as a team with just 40 home runs, but they have a league-high 836 hits and their team pitching ERA of 2.80 is best in the league and includes 12 shutouts.

Behind Montgomery are five other players ranked among the White Sox top 15 prospects. Pitcher Hagen Smith is rated No. 3 and has 75 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched this year.

The other top 15 prospects are pitcher Tanner McDougal (No. 8), infielders Sam Antonacci. (No. 12) and William Bergolla (No. 13), and pitcher Mason Adams (No. 14).

The top pitcher, who is not ranked, is lefthander Shane Murphy, who was the Southern League pitcher of the month in July with a  2-1 record for a 1.17 ERA. He is 9-4 this season with 1.53 ERA.  

WAHOOS NOTEWORTHY

–Following a crowd-pleasing debut last season, the Blue Wahoos have again arranged a post-game drone show to follow Aug. 14's game at the ballpark. Those attending Aug. 14's game will see the ballpark lit up with a massive production of drones in various formations.

Produced by Sky Elements Drone Shows, it will feature more than 100 illuminated drones moving in sync about the stadium. It will be a different show from the July 20, 2024, which was themed with patriotic music. It was believed to be the first drone show of its size ever held in the Pensacola area.

“We always strive to bring to Pensacola experiences that people may only get in large cities, and we wanted to provide a special treat to reflect our pride in our country and local military community,” said Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer prior to last year’s production. “Pensacola may not be large in size, but we are large in heart

–Outfielder Matthew Etzel was activated from the injured list during the past weekend, and went 0-for-3 with a walk in his Blue Wahoos debut. Etzel, 23, was acquired on July 29 in a trade that sent catcher Nick Fortes to the Tampa Bay Rays. Ironically, he was at his best in his career against the Blue Wahoos, batting .313 (26-for-83) with three doubles, six homers and 24s RBI in 25 games.

–At some point this homestand, the Blue Wahoos will set the team record for most stolen bases in one season. The record is 163, set in 2023. The Blue Wahoos entered Aug. 13's game with 160, the most in the Southern League. Shane Sasaki led the club with 24 steals in 26 attempts before his promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville. Marlins affiliates are stealing bases at record paces, with High-A Beloit leading MiLB with 276 steals and Triple-A Jacksonville sixth with 226.

–Reliever Will Kempner is pitching to a 1.13 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Blue Wahoos this season. He has not allowed a run in 12 consecutive appearances spanning 19.0 innings dating back to June 24.

WANT TO GO?

WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

WHEN: Games on Tuesday (Aug. 13) through Saturday (Aug. 16) night will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s (Aug. 17) game starts at 4:05 p.m.

PROMOTIONS: Tuesday –One Price Tuesday – A ticket for $20.50 includes best available seat, plus a hot dog, chips and soft drink. Fans also allowed to bring your dog to the game in co-promotion by Circle K and Pepsi.

Wednesday – 8-5-0 Wednesday. Themed entertainment and fan games.

Thursday – Drone Shone Night.  After making debut last year, the post-game drone show returns on this night, which is also Pensacola Mullet Thursday. The team will wear Mullets jerseys and there will be draft beer and other alcoholic drink specials for those of legal age in sponsorship by Senor Frogs. The drone show begins immediately after the game.

Friday – Giveaway Friday – It’s Hawaiian Shirt Night for adults. The first 1,000 fans ages 21-older through the gates will receive Blue Wahoos logo Hawaiian Shirts courtesy of Kona Brewing Company.

Saturday – Fireworks Saturday – The customary Saturday fireworks show follows this game, sponsored on this night by Bere Jewelers. The Blue Wahoos will also be wearing their Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms.

Sunday – Family & Military Sunday – Children 12-under can run the bases following the game and families can toss soft baseballs in the outfield area for 30 minutes following the game. In addition, the first 100 active or retired military members can obtain a free standing room ticket by visiting the Blue Wahoos box office and showing a military ID.

LIVESTREAM AUDIO: You can listen to the Blue Wahoos’ broadcast of this series with Blue Wahoos announcers Erik Bremer and Carter Bainbridge on www.bluewahoos.com/radio or the MILB App. .

LIVE STATS: Available on www.bluewahoos.com.

LIVESTREAM VIDEO: Available on MiLB.TV (subscription required).  

TICKETS: Available for purchase online at www.bluewahoos.com/tickets, or by visiting the Blue Wahoos box office which will be open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday through Friday this upcoming week.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half Records(Prior To Aug. 12 Games)

South Division

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos – 22-16
• Montgomery Biscuits – 20-19
• Columbus Clingstones – 19-20
• Biloxi Shuckers – 17-22

North Division

• Birmingham Barons -- 27-12
• Knoxville Smokies – 19-19
• Chattanooga Lookouts – 18-19
• Rocket City Trash Pandas – 12-27

Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Wahoos Weekly: Pensacola leads Southern League South Division despite stumble