Extra-Base Hits Galore for Rocks in Blowout

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Matt Fields led off the frame against Salem starter Manny Rivera with a titanic home run to left center field to tie the score.

In the fourth, the Rocks took the lead and never looked back. Lane Adams reached with a single. Fields followed with a rip into left that chased Adams to third and allowed Fields to get to second on a throw to third from left fielder Brandon Jacobs. With one out, Murray Watts sharply grounded a ball up the first base line past the lean of first baseman Michael Almanzar to take the lead at 3-1.

They exploded for more runs in the fifth inning, this time against reliever Michael Gleason. With one out, Geulin Beltre roped a triple to the alley in right field. A laser into left from Adams brought Beltre home for a 4-1 edge. After Fields' third hit of the night, Watts pounded a ground rule double into center field to score Adams for a 5-1 score. After Jose Bonilla worked a walk, Chris Elder connected on his first bases-loaded hit in seven career tries, slithering a ball up the first base line for a three-run triple, stretching the lead to 8-1.

For good measure, Fields launched a solo homer against Jeremiah Bayer that hit off the scoreboard in left to push the advantage to 9-1.

Jason Adam (4-11) started for Wilmington and was extremely efficient. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball (unearned), allowing two hits and one walk to go with six strikeouts. It was his third win in six starts after earning only one victory in his first 17 nods. Nick Graffeo came on in the eighth and tossed two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit and a walk with two strikeouts.

The Rocks hit the middle game of this three-game set with the Salem Red Sox on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Wilmington will throw RHP Andy Ferguson (1-2, 3.98) while Salem counters with RHP Keith Couch (8-8, 3.76). Broadcast coverage begins at 5:35 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.

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