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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Win 18-Inning Marathon

August 14, 2013 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE-The final game of the regular season-series between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Salem Red Sox was one for the memory banks, as the Blue Crew defeated their Southern Division foe 3-2 in 18 innings on Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium. Lasting four hours and 41 minutes, Dennis Raben eventually broke the deadlock with a game-winning single to center, which scored Jack Lopez. With the win, Vance Wilson's club improved to 55-65 on the campaign, but the Rocks were unable to gain ground in the second half Northern Division wildcard chase, as a Lynchburg win allowed the Hillcats to maintain a one-half game edge in the standings.

Salem took the first lead of the game, after Wilmington starter J.C. Sulbaran scuffled in the initial inning. After allowing a single to Sean Coyle to open a game, the righty surrendered a two-run homer to Stefan Welch to put the Red Sox on top 2-0. However, Sulbaran would settle in nicely from the second inning onward. Following a two-out double to Matty Johnson in the third inning, the Curacao native retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced, including the last 10 in succession. He departed after a season-high six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four.

In the second, the Rocks sliced the deficit to a single run. Following a two-out walk to Tim Ferguson, Parker Morin doubled home his teammate, before the home team evened the count in the fifth. Geulin Beltre would set the table with a single, and moved to second on a sac-bunt by Ethan Chapman, before a single down the rightfield line by Justin Trapp made it 2-2.

That's the way the score would stay until the bottom of the 18th inning. Out of pitching options, Salem turned to infielder Vladimir Frias (0-1). Making his first appearance on the mound in a professional game, the righty would set aside the Blue Rocks in order in the 17th, before Wilmington would rally one inning later. Trying to throw off-speed, Frias plunked Lopez who advanced to second on a sac-bunt by Trapp. Lopez then stole third, before Raben singled up the middle to bring the game to an end.

The Blue Crew make the overnight trip to the Hill City to begin a three-game series with Lynchburg on Wednesday night. Left-hander Sam Selman (9-8, 3.53) takes the mound for the Blue Rocks, and will be opposed by Hillcats righty Greg Ross (7-5, 3.43). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. from City Stadium, and fans can listen to the broadcast on 89.7 WGLS-FM. The Blue Rocks return to the Riverfront on Saturday, August 17, when the Potomac Nationals come to town. For ticket information, fans can call 302-888-BLUE or visit BlueRocks.com

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Wilmington's win was well earned on Tuesday night. The 18-inning affair is the longest played game in the Carolina League this season, surpassing the 16-frame marathon between Salem and Frederick on July 26 at LewisGale Field. Meanwhile, Tuesday's game goes down as the second-longest in Blue Rocks franchise history, coming three innings shy of the 21-inning game played between Wilmington and Danville on July 5, 1998 (a 3-2 Blue Rocks victory). Additionally, the 18-inning game is tied for the fifth longest ballgame in Carolina League history, and is the longest in the CL since June 12, 2011, when Kinston and Myrtle Beach played 23 innings.

Dennis Raben gave Wilmington a much-appreciated walk-off win. It was the team's sixth walk-off victory of the season, and the first since July 13, when the Blue Crew defeated Lynchburg 2-1 in 11 innings on an RBI single by Alex McClure. The epitome of an extra-inning club, Tuesday's win also improved the team to 9-5 in games stretching past regulation, while in games lasting 11 stanzas or more, the Rocks have been virtually unbeatable. In contests stretching past the 10th frame, the Blue Rocks are 7-2 this year.

A strength of the team all year, the Blue Rocks bullpen turned in its most impressive effort of the season. Going to work in the seventh inning, the quartet of Kellen Moen, Malcom Culver, Daniel Hernandez and Tyler Sample combined on 12 innings of shutout relief. Over that stretch, Rocks arms scattered only seven hits while walking three and striking out 17. In the process, Culver, Hernandez and Sample all tied or attained season-highs. Culver set a new season-high with six strikeouts, Hernandez eclipsed his previous high-water mark for innings pitched (3.2 stanzas) by working four innings out of the bullpen, while Sample tied his season-high for punch outs (five) in his longest appearance since July 10 (three innings).

Justin Trapp extended his hitting streak to 11 games on Tuesday night. In eight trips to the plate, Trapp went 2-for-7 with an RBI that tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. The 11-game swing is tied for the longest of his career, as Trapp also hit safely in 11 straight last season with Low-A Kane County (stretching from July 28-August 8). Over his streak, Trapp is hitting .354 (17-for-48) with a homer, a triple, four doubles, four RBIs and eight runs scored. In the process, it has moved his batting average up 11 points (.256-.267), the highest it has been since July 9.

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