Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes
Published on May 3, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
WALK-OFF PART DEUX: For the second straight night, the Wilmington Blue Rocks came away with a walk-off win, as a Jorge Bonifacio sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th guided Wilmington past Salem, 7-6. Down four runs after five innings of play, Wilmington scored four times in the sixth to tie the game. The bullpen responded with four innings of shutout ball, before the Blue Crew could bring home the winning run. On the heels of a season-high seven-game losing streak, Vance Wilson's team has now captured three victories in a row (equaling a season-best).
BIG SIXTH INNING: Wilmington got the rally it was looking for in the bottom of the sixth. Down 6-2 entering the frame, Wilmington sent eight men to bat resulting in four tallies off reliever Nefi Ogando. With two outs, Wilmington loaded the bases following singles by Murray Watts and Geulin Beltre, coupled with a walk to Justin Trapp. That set the table for Daniel Mateo, who cleared the sacks with a double to rightfield. Bonifacio followed with a single that tied the contest at six. The Rocks have dominated the sixth inning in 2013, out-scoring their opponents by a combined 30-11 in that frame.
MATEO THE RUN PRODUCER: For the second consecutive night, Daniel Mateo provided a huge hit for the Wilmington offense. Mateo drove in two of Wilmington's three tallies on Wednesday night and then provided a bases-clearing triple on Thursday. After going hitless in the Winston-Salem series (0-for-7), Mateo turned it on against the Red Sox. He hit safely in all four games of the series, going 8-for-17 with three doubles, four runs, and eight RBIs. Thanks to the mini-surge, Mateo's bat- ting average is up 46 points (.207-.253).
BULLPEN GETS IT DONE : Turning things over to the bullpen, the Blue Rocks got five innings of shutdown relief from Antonio Cruz and Andrew Triggs (2-2). During that stretch, the duo averted jams with runners at second and third (seventh inning) and with the bases loaded 10th inning). Malcom Culver, who entered in the fourth in place of starter Sam Selman (3.2IP, 6H, 5R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K) stranded a pair of inherited runners. On the season, Rocks relievers have now left 24 of the 28 bas- erunners they have inherited.
TRIGGS TIME : Following back-to-back losses and blown saves, right-hander Andrew Triggs gave Wilmington the late inning relief it needed. Working a season- high three innings, the USC product scattered three hits, but also recorded a season- best five strikeouts in his first outing in nearly a week. Despite the layoff, Triggs is currently tied with Frederick's Marcel Prado for most appearances among Carolina League relievers (10).
LATE-GAME MAGIC : In the 11th, Trapp opened with a double off Matty Ott (1-2), prompting a pitching change. Against new pitcher Nate Striz, Wilmington got a sac-bunt from Mateo, before a deep fly to right by Bonifacio allowed Trapp to cross with the winning run. This season Wilmington has been involved in four walk-offs, winning its last two, after losing its first two. Three of the walk-off decisions have involved Salem, who claimed a 5-4 walk-off win over the Blue Crew on April 24 at LewisGale Field. The victory also evened Wilmington's record at 2-2 in extra-innings games. PROSPECTING: After serving as the launching pad for a bevy of ranked prospects over the last several years, the Blue Rocks begin the 2013 season with another stable full of potential futute stars. Six of the team's 13 pitchers on the roster rank among Baseball America's top 30 for the organization: RHP Kyle Zimmer (No. 1), LHP Sam Selman (No. 6), LHP John Lamb (No. 11), RHP Kyle Smith (12), RHP Angel Baez (No. 18, but on the disabled list) and RHP Robinson Yambati (No. 28). On offense three more Blue Rocks are ranked in the Royals' top 30 prospects according to Baseball America: Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (No. 4), and infielders Cheslor Cuthbert (No. 9) and Jack Lopez (No. 19).
Tonight's Probable Starters
WIL: RHP Aaron Brooks (0-3, 7.64) vs. LYN: RHP James Hoyt (2-0, 2.33)
Aaron Brooks endured the definition of an up-and-down sea- son at Low-A last season. The 22-year-old Montclair, CA native struggled in April (2-3, 7.18 ERA) was very good in May (1-3, 3.30 ERA), was subpar in June (1-3, 7.28 ERA), was other-worldly in July (5-0, 1.75 ERA) and was mediocre in August (0-3, 6.25 ERA). The question for the Royals is simple; Which is the real Brooks? Kansas City is hoping it is the guy who was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Month in July. So far this season he has continued to seasaw back and forth. He got shelled in his first and third starts of the season, but sandwiched in-between was a five-frame, one-run outing against Carolina. He yielded just a single score on six hits in 4.2 frames during his last start against Winston-Salem. Brooks was a ninth-round pick out of Cal State San Bernardino in 2011.
James Hoyt Following a long, winding road, James Hoyt was finally offered a chance to play affiliated baseball in 2012. Signed to a minor league contract by the Braves last November, Hoyt bounced around independent baseball after playing colle- giately at Palomar College and Centenary College of Louisiana. In 2012, he played for three different clubs in three different leagues, including the Wichita Wingnuts (American Association), the Edinburg RoadRunners (North American League) and the Tabasco Olmecas (Mexican League). Between the three stops he combined to post a 1.76 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 41 innings. That caught the eye of Atlanta and Baseball America, who named Hoyt to its Independent Leagues Top Prospects list. So far, Hoyt's earlier successes have translated to the affiliated ranks, where he has allowed only five runs, and recently tossed 17 straight innings of scoreless baseball. Tonight will be his first career start in an affiliated game.
Carolina League Stories from May 3, 2013
- Sox Walloped by Dash 10-1 on Friday Night - Salem RidgeYaks
- Mudcats Drop Heartbreaker to Keys in Extras - Carolina Mudcats
- Chavez RBI-Double Bolsters Keys - Frederick Keys
- Rocks Register First Shutout of the Season - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Tracy Blasts Winston-Salem Past Red Sox - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Squashed by Slugging Nats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- 'Cats Drop Pitchers Duel to Blue Rocks - Hill City Howlers
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem RidgeYaks
- Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Zimmerman Rejoins Washington - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Media Notes at Potomac - Game 1 of 3 - 7:05 p.m. EST - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (May 3 vs. Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
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