Blue Rocks Set Rock With Fourth Straight Shutout
Published on June 10, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Wilmington, DE - It was a historic night at Frawley Stadium on Wednesday, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks set a pair of franchise records in their 5-0 victory over the Salem Red Sox.
The Blue Rocks pitching staff has now not allowed a run in a record 38 consecutive innings. The previous mark was 33, and had been set in April of 1997. The effort also resulted in Wilmington's fourth consecutive shutout, a feat that had never before been accomplished by a Blue Crew unit.
Three pitchers combined to blank the Sox on Wednesday, as Ray Liotta got the start and pitched five solid innings. The left-hander allowed only one hit and walked two, but was never seriously threatened.
Jason Godin replaced Liotta (2-2) in the sixth, and did not enjoy such smooth sailings. Godin allowed three hits in two-plus innings, and loaded the bases in the eighth before being lifted from the game. It was at this point that Wilmington's scoreless streak seemed doomed.
But Chris Chavez rode in from the bullpen like a night in shining armor. The right-hander quickly forced Chi-Hsien Chiang to fly out to shallow right, keeping the runners put. Then he put the dagger in Salem's back by inducing a 4-6-3 double play by Luis Exposito, which ended the threat.
Chavez, who earned his second save with the outing, forced another Salem double play in the ninth. This time Jon Hee hit a sharp grounder to Jeff Bianchi, who stepped on second himself, and then threw to first to end the game.
On the other end of the spectrum, Wilmington's offense wasted no time getting on the board. The Rocks jumped all over Salem hurler Casey Kelly, who entered the contest as the reigning Carolina League Pitcher of the Week.
Derrick Robinson opened the game with a swinging-bunt single down the first base line. After a Johnny Giavotella strikeout, Mike Moustakas put the Rocks on the board with an opposite field RBI double into the left-center gap. David Lough then put an exclamation point on the opening frame with a line-drive two-run homer to right. It was only the second round-tripper of the season for the C.L. All-Star, and his first at Frawley Stadium.
Wilmington's final two runs of the night were set up by speed.
In the fourth inning, Robinson led off with a single into left-center, and then moved into scoring position by stealing second. Two batters later Bianchi brought him home with an RBI single to right-center field.
Then in the seventh, Anthony Seratelli walked to start the frame. He then stole a pair of bags to put himself on third with only one out. That brought the infield in, and even though first baseman Will Vazquez fielded Robinson's ensuing groundball, his throw home was not in time to catch Seratelli at the plate. The result was a five-run Wilmington lead, more than enough for Wilmington to complete the sweep.
The Rocks get the day off on Thursday before embarking on a six-game road trip which begins on Friday. The Blue Crew will send Danny Duffy (5-2, 2.66) to the mound to open a three-game series at Winston-Salem at 7 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from June 10, 2009
- Lynchburg Scores Three Unearned Runs in Comeback Win - Hill City Howlers
- Blue Rocks Set Rock With Fourth Straight Shutout - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Late Lead Lost for Second Straight Night - Frederick Keys
- Pelicans Offense Goes Quiet in Loss - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Ktribe Beats Myrtle Beach 4-1 - Kinston Indians
- Dash Drop Nats in Rain-Shortened Affair - Potomac Nationals
- Paiml Does It All in Dash Victory Over Potomac - Winston-Salem Dash
- Sox Lose Fifth in a Row to Fall Ten Games Below .500 - Salem RidgeYaks
- K-Tribe Homestand Begins This Friday - Kinston Indians
- Tribe Talk - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats vs. Keys Tonight - Hill City Howlers
- KRAFT Singles Teams Up with Minor League Baseball - Potomac Nationals
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