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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Blow Late Lead and Fall in Extras

July 9, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Entering Saturday the Wilmington Blue Rocks had taken a lead into the ninth inning 32 times in 2011, and 32 times they had come out victorious. That trend came to a disappointing halt for the Blue Crew on Saturday night. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored two runs in the ninth inning to pull even, and then used a solo homer by Vinny DiFazio in the 10th to earn a 7-6 win over Wilmington at Frawley Stadium.

Bryan Paukovits was one pitch away from victory in the top of the ninth. The Blue Crew right-hander had Myrtle Beach down to its last strike. With David Paisano at second base and the Rocks on top, 6-4, Paukovits was ahead in the count to Jared Bolden one ball and two strikes. Three pitches later the game was tied and Wilmington was left in a state of shock from which it could not recover.

Bolden laced a double to left, that scored Paisano and cut the lead to one run. Andres James followed with a chopper toward short. Gerard Hall charged and gloved, but he bobbled the ball in the exchange and James had himself an infield single. With runners at the corners Travis Adair evened the game on the very next pitch with a liner into right. It was Paukovits' first blown save in five tries.

Wilmington still had a chance to win it in the home-half of the ninth. The Blue Crew strung together a two-out rally of its own when Carlo Testa singled and Nick Van Stratten and John Whittleman each drew free passes. The opportunity evaporated however as Ryan Stovall left the bases loaded by bouncing out to second.

DiFazio came through with his long ball against Ryan Dennick (1-3) in the 10th. With one out in the frame the catcher worked a full count and then scorched a fly ball that carried over the left-center fence. Wilmington went down in order in the bottom of the 10th.

The Rocks look to bounce back as they host the Pelicans again on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Tyler Sample (5-6, 4.98) hits the hill for Wilmington against Myrtle Beach right-hander Barrett Loux (8-3, 3.20). Broadcast coverage begins at 1:05 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.

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