CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Blanked in Lynchburg, 5-0

Published on June 13, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Lynchburg, VA - Outdone by one. Such was the case in the hits column for the Wilmington Blue Rocks in their series opener with the Lynchburg Hillcats on Monday night. Alas, runs are what matter, and Lynchburg (28-35) held the advantage there as well, 5-0, as the Blue Rocks (32-30) suffered their fourth shutout loss of the season. Combined with Frederick's 5-4 defeat of Winston-Salem, the Blue Rocks have been eliminated from first-half title contention as the Keys secured the crown and a playoff berth.

Four Hillcat hurlers combined on the squad's fourth shutout win of the season, tying Wilmington for the third-highest total in the league. Fill-in starter Blaine Sims (2-0) tossed six scoreless innings. He scattered seven hits and one walk while whiffing four. Extra-base knocks provided all the run scoring Lynchburg would need in the second. Adam Milligan began the frame with a line-drive homer to right field, his 10th of the year. Back-to-back doubles by Joey Terdoslavich and Joe Leonard combined to produce a second score and Shawn McGill's single sent Leonard plateward for a 3-0 margin.

Keenan Wiley ignited the third with a double and scored one out later on Milligan's groundout to first. Leonard homered on starter Justin Marks' second pitch of the fourth to round out the scoring. Marks (2-5) allowed five runs on nine hits over six innings of work. He struck out four and walked none, but allowed two homers. He retired the final six he faced.

The Blue Rocks had their chances to at least crack the scoreboard, but left eight men on base including six in scoring position. The team struggled to an 0-for-7 showing with men in scoring position on the night.

Relievers Andrew Wilson, Matthew Frevert and Eliecer Cardenas each threw a scoreless inning to complete the blanking for the Hillcats. Wilmington's Henry Barrera struck out four over two scoreless innings in his third rehab outing.

The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday to make up their April 28 rainout. Game one gets underway at 6:05 p.m. with Wilmington right-hander Elisaul Pimentel (3-3, 4.58) facing southpaw Chris Masters (4-2, 3.09). In game two, Carolina League All-Star Michael Mariot (5-0, 2.17) gets his second start as a Blue Rock. The usual piggybacker will face ranked prospect Dimasther Delgado (4-4, 4.53). Broadcast coverage begins at 5:35 p.m. as studio host Adam Dobrowolski brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Of the Blue Rocks' nine hits in the game, eight were singles including one of the bunt variety and another dropped by right fielder Adam Milligan.

The contest took just 2:07 to complete.

Ranked Braves prospect and Carolina League All-Star Todd Cunningham was a late scratch from the lineup. His replacement, Keenan Wiley, doubled and scored.

The Blue Rocks were the last Carolina League team to be shut out this season, with the first blanking coming on May 28. That makes four shutouts suffered in 16 games after avoiding such a fate over each of the team's first 46 contests.

Whit Merrifield and Alex McClure both finished with multiple base hits. Merrifield went 2-for-4 with his team-leading 14th stolen base. McClure singled twice in four at-bats.

Justin Marks has allowed 10 home runs this season, including three over his last two outings. He is tied with Potomac's Paul Demny and recently-demoted Hillcats hurler Willie Kempf for the most dingers surrendered in the loop.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from June 13, 2011


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