The Pensacola Blue Wahoos took another decisive step toward the Southern League postseason Thursday night, overcoming early deficits and executing in late-game situations to secure a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Montgomery Biscuits at DABOS Park in Montgomery, Alabama.

With the road victory and an accompanying loss by the Columbus Clingstones, Pensacola reduced its playoff-clinching magic number to nine with just 15 regular-season games remaining on the schedule. The win improved the Blue Wahoos to 71-51 overall and 35-18 in the second half, reinforcing an extraordinary 9-1 record in extra-inning contests this season.

For sports fans and families across Pensacola, Escambia County, and neighboring communities throughout Santa Rosa and Baldwin counties, the Blue Wahoos represent more than Double-A baseball—they are a community staple and an economic driver for downtown Pensacola and the surrounding Northwest Florida region. As the Miami Marlins affiliate closes in on another postseason appearance, each victory brings the area closer to hosting meaningful playoff baseball along Pensacola Bay in September.

The club’s late-season surge continues a remarkable turnaround from a demanding first half, driven by timely execution, defensive discipline, and bullpen reliability that have resonated with the local fan base.

Early deficits and defensive stops

The Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, challenged Pensacola early. Montgomery opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning when Cooper Kinney delivered an RBI single to center field, driving home Mac Horvath for a 1-0 advantage.

Montgomery doubled its lead in the third inning. Kinney doubled to open the frame and scored when Will Simpson followed with an RBI double to left field. Pensacola starting pitcher Eliazar Dishmey found himself in further trouble when the Biscuits loaded the bases, but the Blue Wahoos defense executed under pressure. Third baseman Juan Matheus initiated a sharp 5-2-3 double play on a softly hit ground ball before catching a foul popup to halt the rally and keep the deficit at 2-0.

Dishmey ultimately worked 4.2 innings before handing the ball to Mason Vinyard in the fifth.

Trimble sparks the offense

Pensacola cut into the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Brandon Compton launched a double down the right-field line, and Fenwick Trimble brought him home with an RBI single to right against Montgomery starter Santiago Suarez.

Trimble struck again in the sixth. With two outs and runners aboard, Trimble lined a two-run single into right field, driving in both Compton and Dillon Lewis to hand Pensacola a 3-2 lead. Suarez concluded a solid quality start for Montgomery, permitting three runs on six hits over six innings with five strikeouts.

Montgomery answered swiftly in the bottom of the sixth against Pensacola’s bullpen. Gregory Barrios, Daniel Vellojin, and Ryan Spikes reached base to load the bases, setting up Horvath for a two-run single to center that plated Barrios and Vellojin, restoring a 4-3 Montgomery lead. Pensacola catcher Ryan Ignoffo prevented further damage by picking Spikes off third base to end the inning.

Late-inning execution and extra-inning triumph

Trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, the Blue Wahoos turned to tactical small ball. Adrian Santana reached base and advanced into scoring position before Matheus executed a squeeze bunt single off Montgomery reliever Andrew Lindsey, bringing Santana home to tie the contest at 4-4.

Reliever Nigel Belgrave entered the game for Pensacola and shut down the Biscuits’ lineup through the remainder of regulation, sending the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, with automatic runner Jay Beshears placed at second base, Santana wasted no time putting Pensacola back in front. Santana lined an RBI double to right field off Biscuits reliever Justin Yeager, driving in Beshears for a 5-4 lead. Compton followed with a walk and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position, though Yeager escaped without allowing further runs.

Belgrave returned for the bottom of the 10th before Luis Palacios entered to record the final out, shutting the door on Montgomery and securing the save. Belgrave earned the victory to move to 5-5 on the season, while Palacios recorded his third save. Yeager was charged with the loss (0-1), allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings.

Background and playoff outlook

Thursday’s victory was a vital rebound for Pensacola following a 10-0 shutout loss to the Biscuits on Wednesday. Because Columbus lost both Wednesday and Thursday, Pensacola’s magic number dropped by two full games over the 24-hour span—falling from 11 down to nine.

In baseball standings, a team’s magic number represents the combined total of its own wins and the closest qualifying competitor’s losses required to officially clinch a postseason berth. Pensacola now controls its destiny with just nine combined outcomes needed over the final 15 games.

The Blue Wahoos’ second-half surge has been highlighted by decisive stretches, including a six-game road sweep over the Biloxi Shuckers earlier this month—Pensacola’s first six-game sweep since the 2023 season. Their resilience in tight contests has been the foundation of that success, underscored by their 9-1 mark in extra innings.

Pensacola continues its series in Montgomery on Friday night, looking to further reduce the magic number and solidify its spot in the Southern League playoffs.

Sources

• https://www.milb.com/news/wahoos-best-biscuits-in-extras-as-magic-number-narrows-to-nine
• https://www.mlb.com/news/suarez-spins-quality-start-as-montgomery-falls-in-extras-to-pensacola-5-4
• https://www.northescambia.com/2026/08/wahoos-best-biscuits-in-extras-as-magic-number-narrows-to-nine

This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

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