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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Fall Short Against P-Nats, Lose 2-1

August 5, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA--An old-fashioned pitcher's duel broke out at Pfitzner Stadium between the Wilmington Blue Rocks (40-70/13-28) and the Potomac Nationals (62-48/28-14) as Zach Lovvorn went toe-to-toe against Erick Fedde on Friday night. Unfortunately for the Rocks it was Lovvorn who wound up on the wrong side of the ledger as the Blue Crew fell 2-1 to the P-Nats despite Lovvorn tying a career high in innings pitched.

It did not look initially like the two teams were going to engage in a low scoring affair as both sides were able to crack the scoreboard within the first couple of innings. It was Potomac getting on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame thanks to three straight singles to jump ahead 1-0. However, after allowing the first run to come home without retiring a batter, Lovvorn induced a popout, a fielder's choice putout at home and a grounder to short to escape the jam without any further damage.

The Blue Crew responded in their next chance at the dish and did so with some two out lightning. Chad Johnson lined a double to center with two down and the slumping Brian Bien made his way to the plate next and hit a ball to the first basemen Matthew Page who threw the ball away, not just giving Bien a single, but allowing Johnson to score from second and tie the game 1-1. Page though made up for his gaffe in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo blast to center, catapulting the P-Nats ahead 2-1. They would hold on to that lead as Fedde settled down and both R.C. Orlan and Ryan Brinley tossed scoreless frames to close out the game and send the Rocks to the 2-1 defeat.

Lovvorn allowed just the two runs in seven quality frames to drop to 2-13 on the year while Fedde barely edged him out with seven innings of one run baseball to improve to 6-4. Orlan notched his sixth hold of the year while pitching the eighth and Brinely converted the save for his 12th time during the 2016 campaign. After dropping their first two games of the four game set, the Rocks look to get back on track on Saturday night when they send RHP Corey Ray (6-5, 5.21) out on the mound against a pitcher yet to be determined by the Potomac Nationals. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and fans wishing to listen to game can hear Matt Janus' call by tuning in to WGLS-GM 89.7 Rowan Radio or by going to the Rocks website at BlueRocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Entering Friday's game against the Potomac Nationals Brian Bien had been in an elongated slump. The infielder for the Blue Rocks was just 5-for-35 since July 19, scoring twice and driving in just a lone run while walking only a couple of times and striking gout on seven occasions. He appeared to snap out of the funk down in Woodbridge, VA, picking up a pair of base knocks in just three plate appearances to move his batting average up to .238. The two hits against Potomac were part of his first multiple hit game since July 6, which was also against the P-Nats. Bien has dominated in his six games against the Nationals. He has nine total hits against Potomac, which is good for a .375 batting average and the highest mark on the team against their nearby rival.

It has been an unlucky year out on the mound for Zach Lovvorn. The southpaw is now 2-13 during his 2016 campaign after getting the loss on Friday night down in Woodbridge, VA. The lefty got saddled with the loss despite tying a career high in innings pitched while going seven frames and allowing just two runs. However, the offense could only muster a single run in support and Lovvorn took the loss while dropping his ERA to 3.58. It continued a season-long theme for the Rocks who have had very little success providing run sport for the native from Alabama. Lovvorn has received 1.4 runs per start in 20 games out on the mound this season with the offense scoring two or fewer runs in 12 of those instances.

The Blue Crew started their season back in April with three games against the Potomac Nationals. They lost all three contests and have not had much better luck against their nearby rival since that point in time. The Rocks and the P-Nats have now played a total of 20 games on the year, but the boys from Frawley have only been able to claim victory in four of those affairs. Although they lost on Thursday and Friday at Pfitzner Stadium, they have actually had more luck there than back at the friendly confines of Frawley Stadium. The Rocks are 4-8 against Potomac down in Woodbridge, VA, but have yet to win a single game against them in Wilmington, going 0-8 in eight games. They are hitting just .218 against Potomac on the year while striking out 164 times as opposed to the P-Nats who are hitting .248 with only 134 punchouts.

One man who has swung the bat all season long since joining the Blue Rocks is Samir Duenez. The burly first basemen racked up a pair of singles on Friday night against the P-Nats to move his average all the way up to .321 on the year. It was the Venezuelan's eighth multiple hit game in his last 11 affairs, hitting safely in 10 of those contests. Since July 24, he is hitting 21-for- 49 with four doubles, a triple, nine RBI, and an impressive 11 runs scored. During the streak he has bumped his average a total of 50 points and his OPS by 54 points, all the way to .903.

THEY SAID IT

MANAGER JAMIE QUIRK:

"Well (Zach Lovvorn) was outstanding. He was just great, he really was. We've talked about it a lot this year, but he's deserved a better fate so many times, but we just can't score for him. It's crazy how well he's pitched and yet he's got nothing to show for it. He pounded the strike zone. He got ground balls and he pitched ahead in the count consistently, which is especially huge for him. He wiggled his way out of two jams and that was about it in terms of base runners. He was all over it out there.

"Lovvorn's never put his head down. We haven't scored for him and yet he comes out every fifth day completely prepared and ready to go out and give his best effort. And as we just saw his best effort is pretty good."

"We've been trying to keep Chad (Johnson) fresher. He shouldered so much of the work load in the first half and early in the second half, so we are trying to keep him as fresh as possible with days off. He put a good swing on that opposite-field double and he made some great throws too. I was very happy with what we saw from Chad out there."

"It's kind of sickening the way we've struggled against (Potomac). I mean I forget the exact record but I'm aware it's bad. Really bad. We've played them tight a lot of the games, but we find a way to lose and they find a way to win. They're the one team we just haven't gotten anything done against and unfortunately they're in our division, so it has really hurt us."

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