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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Francis Homers in Narrow Win

June 1, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - Nick Francis broke a 1-1 eighth-inning draw with his first Advanced-A home run, Rey Navarro added an insurance RBI triple in the ninth and the Wilmington Blue Rocks (23-29) held on for a 3-2 triumph against the Kinston Indians at Historic Grainger Stadium on Tuesday night. Barry Bowden recorded the final two outs for his fifth save, while Patrick Keating (2-0) saw his scoreless innings streak come to a close at 21.2, but secured his second win in as many outings. Starter John Lamb took a no-decision despite allowing just one earned run over six innings for a third straight start, striking out seven.

Francis struck out swinging in his first three at-bats of the night before hitting a one-out solo shot to right off reliever Travis Turek (2-2) for a 2-1 lead. Against an outfield playing heavy opposite way, Navarro pulled a bouncing ball over first baseman Doug Pickens to score Jamar Walton from first base in the ninth. That insurance run would prove pivotal in the bottom half of the frame.

Down 3-1, Kinston's Alex Castillo singled, Lucas Montero took his place on a fielder's choice and Ronald Rivas walked. Manager Brian Rupp made a move to Bowden, who induced a pop out to third off the bat of Adam Davis. Jordan Henry singled home Montero with a flair over short that also ushered Rivas to third. With the tying run 90 feet away, Karexon Sanchez bounced into a narrow force at second base to end the game.

The Blue Rocks never trailed on the night, securing the contest's first lead with an RBI groundout from Salvador Perez in the fourth. Sanchez homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the inning to tie it up.

The three-game series concludes Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Right hander Tim Melville (1-5, 6.85) gets the ball for Wilmington against southpaw T.J. House (1-3, 3.97).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Jamie Romak was named the Carolina League's Batter of the Week earlier in the day and continued his hot play with a single in the fourth inning. He has hit safely in nine straight contests, connecting at a .441 (15-for-34) clip.

Wilmington played error-free baseball for the first time since May 18. Its clean night erased a 12-game error streak that saw the team go from the league's best fielding-percentage defense to No. 5.

Newark, DE product and Kinston reliever Rob Bryson struck out one over two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh.

The Blue Rocks improved their record in one-run games to a league-best 11-6, while Kinston fell to a league-worst 4-11 in such affairs.

Through three Wilmington starts, John Lamb owns a 1.50 ERA. The 19-year-old prospect has struck out 19 men against five walks over 18.0 innings. Wilmington owns a 2-1 record with him on the bump.

Jamar Walton saw his first game action since May 26 and went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Eric Hosmer singled, doubled and walked on a 2-for-3 night. The first baseman also swiped a base for the eighth time in as many tries. He leads the team with 17 doubles.

With the series tied 1-1, Wednesday puts Wilmington in a rubber match. The team has not won a rubber match since its first of the season on April 14 at Kinston. Wednesday's scheduled starter, Tim Melville, also got the nod that day in the Blue Crew's lone shutout victory of the season, 1-0. Since that triumph, the Blue Rocks have lost seven straight rubber matches.

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