Series Preview: Off-Day Clarity Helps Fish Refocus
By Kourage Kundahl
The Wahoos found themselves in a tie for first place after starting the second half with two straight series victories. Despite dropping three games in Jacksonville, Pensacola left with a win. Shaun Ellis spun a one-hit gem in the series opener against the Generals the next day, and a modest winning streak suggested that things were looking up for Pensacola.
That’s when the bats cooled, connecting only three times in Saturday’s doubleheader. Outhitting Jackson in the series cap, a four-game losing streak still roughed up the Wahoos as they rode into Montgomery.
But if there was any doubt that the Fish would ever find their bearings, the ninth-inning rally should have at least deterred it. The Wahoos scored four unanswered runs yesterday night and reversed their ninth-inning curse with the help of Ryan LaMarre. His two-run home run gave Pensacola some breathing room and set up Trevor Bell’s fifth save of the season.
Two runs doesn’t seem like a resounding victory, but the hit column looked the part. With eleven hits, Pensacola recorded double-digit knocks for the first time in July and outhit the Biscuits handily. Even the outs were productive; LaMarre’s sacrifice fly in the second inning gave the Wahoos an early advantage.
On the hill, Tim Crabbe has a solid past and a healthy dose of momentum backing up tonight’s start. The All-Star picked up two of his three wins against Montgomery, going the distance for two quality starts, thirteen strikeouts, and a 1.38 earned run average.
Mobile and Jacksonville, the top two teams in the South Division, will be jockeying for a foothold as the second half starts to heat up. So long as the Wahoos keep their eyes on a successful set in Montgomery, Pensacola can gain a spot in the standings or even two should the Suns fall.
The unholy storm of a scorned Wahoos offense and battered Biscuits rotation can spell trouble for Montgomery after losing four of their last five games. Here are the stats to know as their final dance of the season kicks into full gear:
RUNDOWN
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2013: Season series tied at 8 games
Next meeting: TBA 2014
Wahoos/Biscuits all-time game record: 16–15
Series record: 3–3–0
In Montgomery: 9–7
In Pensacola: 7–8
Expected Starters
Thursday: LHP Enny Romero (8–4, 3.02 ERA) vs. RHP Tim Crabbe (3–7, 3.63 ERA)
Friday: RHP Mike Colla (3–1, 3.29 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Dennick (4–10, 3.77 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Victor Mateo (3–8, 5.70 ERA) vs. RHP Daniel Renken (2–6, 3.91 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Jake Floethe (1–3, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Smith (7–7, 3.44 ERA)
SEASON STATS
Castillo: 10-for-29 (4 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Glaesmann: 18-for-58 (2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R)
Kiermaier: 15-for-60 (3 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 9 R)
Torrez: 11-for-50 (4 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)
Fun Fact: Designated hitter Keith Castillo celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday on Wednesday.
BISCUIT TO WATCH
Cameron Seitzer, 1B
Bats: L Throws: R
Seitzer earned his second All-Star honor and plans to start at first for the South Division next week. The recognition caps a whirlwind season for the former Sooner, who skipped High-A Charlotte to make the Biscuits in just his third professional season.
The infielder is second on the squad in hits (88), as well as third in batting average (.268) and on-base percentage (.372). He’s been a driving force of the team, one of only four players with more than 300 at-bats and the only member of Montgomery’s roster to play in every game this season. He slashed 130 hits last season in Low-A Bowling Green en route to a .307 average, and he’s on pace to best the statistic even with a slow start in July.
