CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Big Ninth Inning Dooms Blue Rocks

Published on June 26, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - A pitching duel turned into a tough loss for the Wilmington Blue Rocks (34-41/3-2) against the Lynchburg Hillcats (33-40/4-2) on Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium as the Rocks fell by the score of 8-3. Starting pitcher Jace Vines went six full innings giving up only four hits, two walks and one earned run while amassing six strikeouts. However, a six-run ninth inning by the Hillcats put the game out of reach for the Blue Crew.

Tied 2-2 heading into the final inning, Lynchburg broke the game open and sent 11 men to the plate. Jorma Rodriguez reached second base on a pair of errors and advanced to third base on a wild pitch before Jodd Carter doubled him home to put Lynchburg out in front 3-2. Alexis Pantoja hit a bloop single into left to bring in another run before a fielding error by the Rocks allowed Carter to score and make it a 5-2 deficit. Lynchburg plated two more insurance runs on an RBI single by Ernie Clement and an RBI double by Conner Capel to put the game out of reach, 7-2. Rodriguez would tack on another run with an RBI groundout to make it 8-2.

The Blue Rocks attempted a rally in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, Chase Vallot drew a full-count walk to drive in Khalil Lee to cut the lead to 8-3. The rally ended with tough luck as Rudy Martin smacked a line drive that was snagged by Hillcats' first baseman Anthony Miller at first base who then stepped on the bag at first to complete the game-ending double play.

Wilmington wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with an early tally in the bottom of the first. D.J. Burt smacked Wilmington's first hit of the game into deep centerfield for a one-out triple. Lee followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Burt to put the Rocks on top 1-0.

Lynchburg did not respond until the top of the sixth. With Mitch Longo on second, Capel reached on an error before Rodriguez drove in Capel with an RBI single to put the Hillcats on top 2-1. Wilmington managed to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Blake Perkins started the inning with a lead-off double. Burt reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners. Lee came up clutch once again with an RBI single to score Perkins and knot the game up at 2-2.

Wilmington and Lynchburg will play the third game of the five-game series on Wednesday, June 27 at Frawley Stadium with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. The Blue Rocks will send right-hander Ofreidy Gomez (2-5, 4.12 ERA) on the mound while Lynchburg will send righty Eli Morgan (3-2, 2.62 ERA). Fans can tune into the game with Matt Janus and Cory Nidoh on 89.7 WGLS-FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Jace Vines turned in a quality start and worked six solid innings, but did not factor in the decision. The righty did not allow a run through his first five innings of work before Lynchburg plated a pair of runs on an error and single. Vines allowed just four hits, walked two and struck out six. It was the sixth quality start Vines put together over his last 11 outings.

On his birthday, Lee drove in the game's first run and game-tying run for Blue Rocks in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lee added to his team lead with 41 RBI and hits (65) and has picked up a hit in four of his last five games and 15 of 22 games. With a pair of singles Tuesday night, the Carolina League All-Star also picked up his team-leading 19th multi hit game of the season.

The Blue Rocks committed six errors in the setback, tying a franchise-record for the most errors in a single game. It was the fourth time in the club's history that a Blue Rock's team committed six errors in a game. The last time Wilmington kicked the ball around six times was back on May 7 at home against Myrtle Beach in which the Rocks were victorious, 2-0.

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Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2018


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