Behind an impressive 5.1 shutout innings from starter Bradley Blalock, the Biloxi Shuckers (45-45, 15-8) secured their ninth shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (50-41, 12-11) at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Wednesday night. This win marks a milestone as the Shuckers became the first team in the Southern League to reach 15 wins in the second half of the season.
The Shuckers opened the scoring in the second inning with a clutch two-RBI single from Casey Martin, bringing home Ernesto Martinez Jr. and Connor Scott to give Biloxi a 2-0 lead. The team extended their advantage to 3-0 in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI double from Lamar Sparks.
On the mound, Blalock was outstanding, allowing only four hits and three walks over his 5.1 innings. He effectively navigated through trouble, stranding six Blue Wahoos’ baserunners, including four in scoring position and two at third base. The bullpen trio of Nick Merkel, Craig Yoho, and Justin Yeager combined to complete the shutout, contributing 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. Blalock (5-2) earned the win, while Pensacola’s Tristan Stevens (1-1) took the loss. Yeager secured his 11th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning, and Yoho struck out two in a flawless eighth, boosting his strikeout rate to an impressive 46% over his first 15 Double-A appearances.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a single and a triple, marking his second consecutive multi-hit game. His stellar performance in July has raised his slash line to .423/.552/.654 with a 1.206 OPS over 15 games.
Looking ahead, Shane Smith (4-2, 3.18 ERA) is set to start for the Shuckers in game three of the series on Thursday, facing Jonathan Bermudez (3-4, 2.63 ERA) for Pensacola. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Fans can tune in live on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network, with pregame coverage starting at 5:45 p.m. from the Ground Zero Blues Club Broadcast Booth.
