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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Big Inning Carries Myrtle Beach to Victory in Opener

August 21, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Under slate gray skies at a chilly Frawley Stadium on Tuesday night, the Wilmington Blue Rocks could not survive a hurricane force second inning by Myrtle Beach, falling to the Pelicans, 10-8, in the opener of a three-game series. All-Star Julio Pimentel was tagged for seven runs (three earned) on four hits in the second, while reliever Rayner Oliveros coughed up three runs in the sixth to break a 7-7 tie and send Myrtle Beach to their third straight victory. The loss for Wilmington snapped a four-game winning streak and, coupled with a Potomac victory, cut the Rocks' lead in the Carolina League's Northern Division standings to five games over the second-place Nationals on the second half.

The loss overshadowed impressive offensive showings by Miguel Vega and Brad McCann. Vega went 2-for-5 with a double and tied a season high with four RBIs. McCann, the older brother of former Pelican and current Atlanta Braves backstop Brian McCann, scolded a season-best four hits and delivered a pair of RBIs in a losing cause.

But, not even a night that featured the aforementioned offensive heroics, plus a 3-for-5 night from Mario Lisson, could salvage less-than-stellar efforts from Pimentel and Oliveros.

Pimentel entered the night with the second-lowest ERA in the league, but fell prey to a very game Pelicans lineup in the top of the second. With the Rocks ahead 2-0 thanks to Miguel Vega's two-run single in the first, Pimentel walked leadoff man Ivan Terrazas to start the second. Chase Fontaine followed a Jeff Stevens fly-out with a double to right to put runners at second and third. Larry Williams knotted the game in the next at-bat, shooting a single through the hole on the right side, chasing both runners home.

Eleven Pelicans would come to the plate against the Dominican right-hander in the second before the damage was done, thanks in some part to Lisson's one-out throwing error. After the miscue, Jordan Schafer plated the go-ahead run with a double to right. Pimentel plunked Michael Fisher to load the bases and then walked Willie Cabrera to push home a fourth run.

An RBI groundout by Quentin Davis and Terrazas' two-run single to left put the finishing touches on the gaudy inning, which tied for the most proficient frame allowed by the Rocks this season.

A three-spot in the third and two in the fourth pulled Wilmington back from a five-run hole and into a tie ballgame. Vega delivered his second two-run knock of the game, a one-out double to left off Myrtle Beach starter Deunte Heath, to cut the Pelicans' lead to 7-4. Kiel Thibault followed Vega's jolt with an RBI single to shave the deficit to two.

In the fourth, consecutive RBI singles by McCann and Brian McFall off reliever Bryan Dumesnil evened the game at 7-7. Both runs were charged to Heath, who departed after walking back-to-back batters with one out. The former University of Tennessee star allowed seven runs on five hits in just 3.1 innings.

The comeback took Pimentel off the hook, as he departed after the fifth.. The prospect righty settled down after the rocky second inning to retire nine of the next 11 men he faced. His season ERA elevated slightly to 2.78.

But, Oliveros (1-3) gave the Birds the advantage once again in the sixth. The Venezuelan right-hander set down the first two men in the frame, but surrendered four consecutive two-out hits, including Terrazas' rally-capping two-run single to right field.

Wilmington had no further answers against a brilliant effort by the Pelicans bullpen. Dumesnil (1-1), Tyler Bullock, and Sung Ki Jung combined to hurl 5.2 scoreless frames of relief, with Jung logging the final four outs for his 22nd save in 24 tries. The Korean sidewinder has converted 15 straight save opportunities on the season.

The Blue Rocks look to even the series on Wednesday night, as Wilmington and Myrtle Beach play the middle game at 7:05 p.m. The Rocks send prospect right-hander Blake Johnson (7-6, 3.46) against rehabbing Major Leaguer Ryan Drese (0-0, 4.50) for the Pelicans.

GAME NOTES: For the time being, Mario Lisson extended his Blue Rocks season-best hitting streak to 16 games with a 3-for-5 night. However, should Lisson fail to register a hit on Friday night in the completion of Sunday's suspended game versus Lynchburg, the All-Star third baseman's streak would end at 15. He was 0-for-1 with a double play in his lone at-bat in that contest.

Jose Duarte went 0-for-5 with a walk, putting a halt to his hitting streak at 11 games. His previous season-high streak was 12 games, accomplished between May 28 and June 8.

Russ Haltiwanger and Tyler Chambliss collectively tossed three scoreless innings on Tuesday. Halitwanger allowed two hits and a walk in two innings while Chambliss twirled a perfect ninth.

Due to weather complications since Sunday and an ominous forecast heading into the evening, the Blue Rocks announced early in the day that Hall of Famer George Brett's scheduled appearance at Frawley Stadium for Tuesday night's game was called off. "Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating with our efforts to have Mr. Brett at Frawley Stadium," explained Blue Rocks general manager Chris Kemple on Tuesday morning. "We hope our fans will understand these difficult circumstances." Brett, the current Royals vice president of baseball operations, is not slated to appear at Frawley Stadium at any future point this season.

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