CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Keys Sweep Rocks in Doubleheader

Published on August 20, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Frederick, MD - Baseball can change pretty quickly. After Saturday evening, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (58-69, 29-28) were on the highest of highs. They had won eight of nine and held a healthy lead in the second half North Division race. Two days and three losses later, they only have a 0.5 game lead on the Frederick Keys (55-71, 28-28), who took both games of a doubleheader by marks of 6-4 and 5-2 on Monday night at Harry Grove Stadium.

The Keys got a pair of runs in the fifth inning of Game One. Facing Elisaul Pimentel, Joe Oliveira led off the frame with a walk. With one out, Michael Rooney slashed a ball to left field over Geulin Beltre's head for a double. A hard single through the left side for Steve Bumbry made it 1-0. With two outs, a rope shot up the middle from Allan de San Miguel gave the Keys a 2-0 edge.

In the sixth, the Rocks got back in the game with a tally. Angel Franco got aboard with a leadoff walk against Matt Bywater. With two outs, Franco swiped second. Matt Fields then skipped a one-hopper through the left side for a base-hit to cut the Frederick lead to 2-1.

Frederick put the game to bed in the eighth. A line single to center from Jeremy Nowak started things for the Keys. With one out, Jerome Pena fisted a double down the left field line. With two runners in scoring position, Oliveira pushed a bunt out in front of home plate. Nowak scored to make it 3-1 on the play and reliever Tyler Sample waited for Franco to cover first base. He threw to first seemingly in time but Franco spun around and the ball popped out of his glove. Oliveira was ruled safe. Manager Vance Wilson came out to argue but to no avail. A sacrifice fly came off the bat from Brenden Webb to bring home Pena for a 4-1 edge. Rooney followed with a base-hit before Bumbry doubled home Oliveira to stretch out the lead to 5-1.

In Game Two, the Keys jumped all over starter Jason Adam in the first inning. With one out, seven straight men reached to total five runs against the Rocks ace. Pena started the rally with a base knock. A walk followed to Brenden Webb. de San Miguel punched a single to center to score the game's first run. Nowak then blasted a home run to right center field to make the score 4-0. Moments later, Bumbry smoked a pitch over the left center field fence to extend the lead to 5-0.

The Rocks could only muster two runs against Devin Jones. They got their scores in the second and the fifth thanks to RBI base-hits from Juan Graterol and Lane Adams, respectively. Jones is 6-0 on the season after tossing seven innings, with just six hits and a walk to go along with five strikeouts.

The Rocks continue this series with the Frederick Keys on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Wilmington will start RHP Andy Ferguson (2-2, 3.22) against Frederick LHP Tim Berry (4-4, 4.09). Broadcast coverage begins at 6:30 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 the loss, Jason Adam now has 12 losses on the year. That ties for the 3rd most losses in a season in franchise history. That number ties him with former Blue Rocks Tommy Hottovy, Tim Melville and Brian Sanches. Hottovy and Sanches have appeared in the big leagues. The most losses in a single-season is 15 by Jeremy Affeldt in 2000. Affeldt also made the big leagues, winning a World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2010.

Adam's 12 th loss ties him for the most in the Carolina League and his 18 home runs is the most among all CL hurlers. Adam gave up back-to-back jacks to Jeremy Nowak and Steve Bumbry. It was the first set of consecutive homers the Rocks have allowed all year.

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Carolina League Stories from August 20, 2012


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