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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Get Plenty of Hits But Not Enough Runs in Loss

June 25, 2013 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Lynchburg, VA - The Wilmington Blue Rocks dominated everywhere but the scoreboard on Tuesday night in Lynchburg. Despite out-hitting the Hillcats, 11-4, Wilmington dropped a 3-2 nail-biter to their Carolina League Northern Division rivals. Robby Hefflinger's two-out, two-strike homer in the bottom of the sixth inning put Lynchburg ahead to stay, and handed Wilmington starter Kyle Smith a tough-luck loss. The setback drops the Rocks back below .500 on the second half (2-3) and to 35-40 overall for the season.

Smith (4-4) pitched great despite taking the loss. The right-hander retired the first nine batters he faced. Matt Lipka got the Hillcats' first hit in the fourth when he opened the frame with a bunt-single. He came around to score from second on Denis Raben's two-out error at first, which tied the game, 1-1. Smith's only mistake came with two outs and nobody on two innings later. Unfortunately for the Carolina League All-Star, it came against the most dangerous hitter in the league. Hefflinger sent his 2-2 pitch soaring over the left-centerfield fence for his second homer of the series and his CL-best 21 st dinger of the season.

The Hillcats added some pivotal insurance in the seventh against reliever Cody Fassold. David Rohm opened the inning with a double, went to third on Shawn McGill's single and came home on Elmer Reyes' sacrifice fly to right.

Wilmington tried to respond in the top of the eighth. Jared Schlehuber sparked the rally with his one-out double to right-center. He went to third on Raben's groundball-single to right and came home on Daniel Mateo's RBI chopper to third. Jack Lopez followed with a walk to put the go-ahead run on base with two outs, but Kenny Swab struck out to end the inning. The Blue Crew went down in order in the ninth against John Cornely, who earned his second save of the season. A.J. Holland (4-4) allowed just two runs over 7.1 frames to notch the win for Lynchburg.

Wilmington continues its four-game series in Lynchburg on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. The Blue Crew will send right-hander Kellen Moen (1-1, 4.14 to the mound for his third start of the season, while the Hillcats will counter with righty Ryan Weber (4-2, 3.42).

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The Blue Rocks entered this series batting a measly .188 as a team in six prior games against Lynchburg. Wilmington finished Monday with a season-high 19 hits and pounded 11 more base knocks in Tuesday's narrow loss. The 30 hits were the most in a two-game stretch for the Blue Crew since they had 33 in consecutive wins at Frederick on May 11 and 12. Wilmington is now batting .245 in eight games this season against the Hillcats.

The biggest difference between Monday's win and Tuesday's loss for Wilmington was its inability to get the big hit. The Rocks went just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position. In their 15-8 series-opening triumph the Blue Crew came through with knocks in 12 of their 23 chances with runners at second and/or third base.

Jared Schlehuber had another big night at the plate for Vance Wilson's team. The designated hitter went 3-for-4 and was responsible for both of Wilmington's scores. He legged out an infield single to drive in a run, and scored the Blue Crew's only other tally. Schlehuber has hit safely in all five games since the All-Star break, batting .421 (8-for-19) with four RBIs over that stretch.

Kyle Smith turned in his eighth quality start of the season despite suffering the setback on Tuesday. The Rocks' lone representative on the Carolina League All-Star team yielded just two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks in six strong innings. It is the first time Smith has taken a loss when lasting at least six frames and allowing three runs or less this season. Tuesday also marked the first time in Smith's two-year professional career that he has lost three consecutive starts.

The Rocks were guilty of another defensive miscue on Tuesday when Denis Raben booted a groundball at first in the bottom of the fourth. Wilmington has now committed at least one error in six of its last seven games, with 10 overall during that stretch. On the season, the Blue Crew has committed four more errors (100) than any other team in the Carolina League. Wilmington also owns the lowest fielding percentage (.963) in the eight-team loop

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Carolina League Stories from June 25, 2013


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