CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Laugher at Frawley Ends in Rocks Win

Published on May 21, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - All the walkoff fun over the weekend was a little too close for comfort, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (20-23) bashed and pitched their way to a 7-0 victory over division foe Potomac Nationals (18-23) on Monday night at Frawley Stadium.

Wilmington starter Greg Billo (4-3) had his best outing of the year. The righty went seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk to go along with five strikeouts. Leondy Perez followed him with two clean innings of work with a pair of strikeouts.

The big blows came in the fourth inning for Wilmington. Up 2-0, the Blue Rocks got their rally going with one out against Potomac starter Matt Swynenberg (3-2). Whit Merrifield powered a ball to right field that was sorely misplayed by Randolph Oduber, putting him at second base after the error. Angel Franco then slapped a triple down the first base line to make it 3-0. Brian Fletcher followed with a double that was smoked to the alley in right center which boosted the lead to 4-0. Brett Eibner tripled deep to deep right center which scored Fletcher from second for a 5-0 lead. With the infield drawn in, Cheslor Cuthbert raised the lead to 6-0 with a slow roller up the middle that snuck by the drawn in infield of the Nationals. Swynenberg was relieved after Cuthbert's single.

The Rocks added a run in the sixth off Adam Olbrychowski, who came in for Swynenberg in the fifth inning. A solo blast down the left field line from Juan Graterol kicked off the inning and capped the scoring at 7-0.

The Blue Rocks took an early lead in the third inning with a pair of runs. Graterol led off with a double into left field. After a sacrifice from Alex McClure, Merrifield peppered the same area as Graterol with a double of his own to make it 1-0. With two outs in the frame, Brian Fletcher lined a single to right field to bring home Merrifield and draw a 2-0 lead.

After nabbing the opener on Monday, the Blue Rocks look to clinch the three-game set with the Potomac Nationals, as the middle game is slated for a 6:35 p.m start on Tuesday. Wilmington right-hander Yordano Ventura (2-3, 2.97) will battle Nationals righty Robbie Ray (1-1, 11.25). Broadcast coverage begins at 6:05 p.m. as studio host Rob Cunningham brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

With some pitching and timely offense, the Blue Rocks tied their largest margin of victory as they beat the Nationals by seven runs. The Rocks romped the Carolina Mudcats by a 9-2 score on April 16 at Frawley Stadium.

The seventh inning blast from Juan Graterol was his seco nd career home run. The dinger comes in his 247th game and 800th career at bat. His only other homer came with the Blue Rocks last year on June 2 in a game at Kinston.

The Blue Rocks picked up their second shutout of the season on Monday. Greg Billo fired seven scoreless and Leondy Perez notched two clean innings. The only other Blue Rocks shutout this season came back on April 20 at Winston-Salem. Billo also started that ball game as he went five innings, with Thomas Melgarejo and Nick Rogers tossing a pair each.

The two hits allowed by Blue Rocks pitching on Monday set a season best for fewest hits by an opponent. The prior season best was four hits, which happened on Sunday when Sugar Ray Marimon allowed one basehit while Santiago Garrido yielded a trio of Pelican knocks.

On Monday, infielder Michael Liberto was activated off the disabled list. On the DL since the beginning of the season, Liberto was inserted into the open spot that was left by the departure of LHP Thomas Melgarejo. Liberto spent last year with Kane County and Idaho Falls.

The Carolina League announced on Monday that Wilmington Blue Rocks catcher Kevin David is the Carolina League Player of the Week for May 14-20. The Rocks' backstop had quite the week at the plate, going 8-for-14 (.571) with a double, a home run, six RBIs, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. David's week was highlighted by a two-run walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night. David is the first Blue Rock this season to receive such accolades from the Carolina League.

For the 14th time this season, Jansen Visconti and Rich Gonzalez combined to umpire a game involving the Rocks, which accounts for 37% of Wilmington's games on the year.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 21, 2012


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