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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Take Opener, 4-3

June 24, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Winston-Salem, NC - The Wilmington Blue Rocks never trailed and held off a late rally to earn a 4-3 win in their series opener against the Winston-Salem Warthogs on Sunday night. Starter Julio Pimentel (4-3) snapped a personal three-game losing streak with his first win since May 11, firing seven innings of one-run ball. Despite allowing a pair of runs in the ninth, Wilmington's new closer, Rayner Oliveros, earned his second save of the season by working the contest's final two innings. The win, just Wilmington's second in eight tries at Ernie Shore Field this season, improved the Blue Rocks' second-half record to 4-0.

Two runs had already scored with two outs in the ninth, and two men stood on base in a one-run game as Oliveros received a stern test in his first outing as the new closer. With All-Star Gilbert De La Vara promoted to Double-A Wichita (TEX), Oliveros was given the end-game job, and despite some runs against him, struck out Javier Castillo on three straight changeups to clinch the victory.

Josh Johnson broke up a scoreless game in the fifth inning with a clutch two-out RBI hit. Miguel Vega started the inning with a line drive single to left field, Cody Clark followed with a sac bunt to push him to second and two batters later, Johnson plated Vega with a line single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.

It appeared that Wilmington might have its second straight 1-0 game on tap as Pimentel dominated his first six innings of work. Pimentel had allowed just one hit and two men on base through the game's first six frames. The Rocks notched an insurance run for the Dominican in the seventh, again on a two-out RBI hit from Johnson. This time, Brett Bigler started the inning with a full-count walk, and scored from first on an opposite-way double off the bat of Johnson for a 2-0 contest.

In the bottom half of that seventh inning, Pimentel was touched for the lone run against his ledger on a pair of consecutive two-out hits. David Cook singled to right and Daron Roberts followed with an RBI triple to right-center for a 2-1 score.

Again, the Rocks plated some extra runs for Pimentel, scoring a pair of runs against reliever John Lujan in the eighth. With one out, Mario Lisson reached on a single to center, and moved to second on a line hit to center by Brad McCann. Lisson darted for third on the play and center fielder Paulo Orlando's throw was off by just enough to not only allow Lisson to be safe, but also for McCann to take second.

During the subsequent at-bat by Brian McFall, Lujan threw a wild pitch that scored Lisson from third base and gave McCann the spot 90-feet from home plate. From down 0-2 in the count, McFall composed himself and scored McCann with an RBI single to left-center for a 4-1 advantage, giving Oliveros the insurance he needed in the ninth.

Pimentel had started the eighth inning, matching the longest outing on his career, now done twice as a Blue Rock. But Pimentel left in the eighth without recording an out after a double and a walk. Oliveros did the job thereafter, stranding both runners with 1-2-3 showing thereafter.

After getting Cole Armstrong in a groundout at second to start the ninth, Oliveros allowed four of the next five hitters to reach on base hits, with the last two driving in runs. Castillo came up next and struck out to end the rally and the game.

The series between the Blue Rocks and Warthogs continues on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Wilmington right-hander Jason Godin (0-2, 7.64) opposes fellow righty Brian Omogrosso (3-2, 4.43).

GAME NOTES:

Earlier in the day, the Kansas City Royals promoted All-Star reliever Gilbert De La Vara to Double-A Wichita (TEX). The southpaw earned his team-leading seventh save on Friday night. He went 2-1 with an ERA of 0.82 over 22 relief appearances as a Rock.

Julio Pimentel retired a batter on one pitch six times, and 16 times retired a batter on three pitches or less. The All-Star's ERA dipped from 2.96 to 2.80.

Wilmington remained the lone undefeated team in the Carolina League on the second half with its Sunday win.

Josh Johnson finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles along with his two RBIs.

Miguel Vega, who had not been hit by a pitch in 64 games and 252 at-bats entering Sunday, was plunked twice in the win.

Brad McCann made his first start as a Blue Rock, playing first base and batting cleanup. The older brother of Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jose Duarte went 0-for-5 with a strikeout as his offensive woes continued. Over his last 11 games, Duarte has gone 5-for-38 (.132) with just one extra-base hit, only five runs scored and 12 strikeouts. His average is down nearly 30 points from .312 to .285.

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Carolina League Stories from June 24, 2007


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