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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Fall in 10 Innings in Series Finale with Carolina

August 13, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


WILMINGTON, Del. - The Blue Rocks left a season-high 16 runners on base on Thursday, and ended up losing 4-3 in 10 innings to the Carolina Mudcats at Frawley Stadium. With the loss, the Blue Crew dropped to 53-63 overall and 15-31 in the second half, while Carolina moved up to 60-56 on the season with a 26-21 second-half record. The Rocks erased an early two-run deficit to send the game to extras, but Tanner Krietemeier's two-run double in the top of the 10th proved to be the difference.

The Mudcats offense jumped Jakob Junis in the top of the first inning. On the second pitch of the game, Keith Curcio sent a ball over the right field fence to give Carolina a 1-0 lead. After Junis retired the next two men, he yielded a double to Jacob Schrader, who came home when the following batter, Carlos Franco, produced an infield single, making it 2-0 Mudcats.

Wilmington cut the Carolina lead in half with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Mauricio Ramos got the inning started with a single, then Elier Hernandez was hit by a pitch two batters later. Following another single from Alfredo Escalera, the Rocks cracked the scoreboard thanks to a sacrifice fly from Cam Gallagher. Ramos came home on the play, narrowing the Mudcats advantage to 2-1.

The Rocks pulled even with Carolina in the bottom of the seventh. Carlos Garcia tripled to lead off the frame, then two batters later, scored on Ramos's RBI double. Ramos ended up being stranded on second base, but the inning concluded with the score tied at two. Neither team would be able to plate a run by the ninth, and the contest headed to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, Yender Caramo yielded singles to Joey Meneses and Schrader to put runners on the corners to begin the frame. After retiring the next two men, Caramo would find himself on the precipice of escaping the jam with Tanner Krietemeier coming to the plate. Krietemeier came up clutch for the Mudcats, however, ripping a two-run double to push Carolina out in front 4-2.

Wilmington produced a major threat in the bottom of the 10th, but could not complete the comeback. Carolina reliever Brad Roney walked the first three men of the inning, which sent Ramos to the dish with a prime opportunity to do damage. Ramos bounced into a double play that scored a run, making it 4-3 Carolina. Ryan O'Hearn would be next, and he would line out to end the ballgame.

The Blue Rocks hit the road for a three-game set at Potomac beginning on Friday. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and fans can listen to the broadcast on 89.7 WGLS-FM. Wilmington returns home on Tuesday, August 18 to begin a six-game home stand at Frawley Stadium. For tickets, call 302-888-BLUE, or visit www.bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

With Thursday's loss, the Rocks lost yet another series. It has been quite some time since Wilmington came away with a series win, with their last one occurring in a three-game set lasting from July 7 through July 9 against Frederick. The Blue Crew has dropped its last 10 series, and 17 overall on the season. For Wilmington, their next series win will be their 12th. Thursday was also the rubber match for the Rocks and Mudcats, and as a result of the defeat, Wilmington now sits at 4-6 in rubber matches during the 2015 campaign.

The Rocks had their fair share of opportunities to score runs on Thursday, but struggled mightily with runners in scoring position. Wilmington put together a 2-for-21 showing with runners on second and/or third base against Carolina, which comes out to a .095 batting average. The struggles lasted the entire series for the Blue Crew, as they went 5-for-35 (.143) against the Mudcats over the course of the three-game set. As a result of Thursday's action, the Blue Rocks are now batting .258 with runners in scoring position on the season.

Thursday night marked the first time an opposing batter produced a lead-off home run against the Blue Rocks. Carolina's Keith Curcio took Jakob Junis deep to begin the contest, hitting one out on the second pitch of the contest. The last time an opposing batter went yard off a Wilmington pitcher to lead off a game was on July 31, 2014, when Lyncburg's David Nick hit one out off of Miguel Almonte. Wilmington has one lead-off shot themselves in 2015, courtesy of Ramon Torres on May 28 at Potomac.

With this home stand completed, the Blue Rocks have hosted their final single-series home stand of the season. It has been a while since Wilmington found themselves at Frawley Stadium for more than one set, with their most recent such stretch running from May 19 to May 25. The first four home stands of the Blue Crew's season lasted seven games, but they have hosted nothing but single-series home stands since May. The Rocks have enjoyed nine consecutive home stands of either three or four games, but their next one will go six contests, and the final one of the 2015 regular season will run for seven.

THEY SAID IT:

Bench Coach Brian Bocock:

"We had a chance but with games like that you want the middle of your order up with runners on for a chance to take the lead. We had that opportunity but we just came up a little short."

"(Mauricio Ramos) is probably one of our best hitters. He's our three-hole hitter and the game is on the line, I'm not going to give him a take there. I'm going to trust him to get a pitch he can handle. He might have got a little over-aggressive, but you have to give the best hitter in your lineup a chance. You get your middle of the order guys up, you've got to let them swing."

"I think we're doing alright. We're battling and we're getting our work in. (Losing) is part of it, that's what the minors are for. You've got to learn to go through stretches like this. It's unfortunate. You don't want to and it's no fun, but it is part of the game. We've just got to figure out a way to get back on track. I think they're okay as a whole. They're keeping the energy up in the dugout and doing the things you need to do. I think maybe they're a little frustrated with themselves. As a team, I think we're holding up pretty good."

Relief Pitcher Yender Caramo:

"I was looking for a ground ball (in the tenth). When it was hit back to me I jumped and got it bare-handed. I didn't even think about it. I saw that the guy on third was still on the base so I tried to turn a double play and make the inning quicker."

"I saw the ball (hit by Krietemeier) was foul. If the umpire says it was a fair ball then it's a fair ball. There's nothing you can do about it. I made a good pitch, I hit the spot, and the guy just hit the ball. I got a lazy fly ball down the line."

Infielder Carlos Garcia:

"I've been feeling very good these past two games. I've been trying to do my job, just out the ball in play and not trying to do too much...and trying to get on base for Mauricio (Ramos) and (Ryan) O'Hearn. It makes their job easier."

"(Getting hit with runners in scoring position) is one of the most important things. When we have runners in scoring position, we haven't been able to drive them in and score runs. I think it's more momentum sometimes. We try to do too much at home plate. When you've been in a long losing streak you're trying to win and play 100 percent every single game."

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