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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks blown out in series opener

June 6, 2008 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA - The second-place Wilmington Blue Rocks entered Friday night's series opener against the Potomac Nationals with a lot to play for. Trailing the first-place P-Nats by 5.0 games in the first-half divisional title chase, noise on the weekend in the Blue Rocks' favor would likely mean a true race to the finish. Instead, the Rocks (30-30) failed to hear the starting gun as Potomac routed Wilmington, 12-1. Every Nationals starter had at least one hit and Potomac assembled 18 knocks on the night as a squad. Starter Jason Godin (2-6) allowed nine of the runs in suffering the loss, Wilmington's second-most lopsided setback of the season.

Potomac grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening inning with a leadoff triple by Michael Martinez and right-side groundout from Matt Rogelstad. The Nationals added a score in the second when Chris McConnell's team-worst 12th error of the season scored Edgardo Baez from third base. After a Martinez error at shortstop gave Wilmington its first tally in the third inning, plating Jeff Howell from third, the P-Nats firmly grasped the contest with a ferociously efficient bottom of the frame.

Godin delivered just 14 pitches in the third, but Potomac turned them into four runs on four hits. The first four men reached, with a Rogelstad single, Chris Marrero hit by pitch and an RBI double to right on a first-pitch swing by Leonard Davis. Edgardo Baez drove in two more with a single to right, and two batters later Dee Brown, son of former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro, the late Jerome Brown, hammered home a fourth score with a single of his own for a 6-1 margin.

The Blue Rocks' best chance to get back into the game was thwarted in the fourth frame. But after loading the bases with nobody out, Wilmington failed to score a run as Josh Johnson bounced into a fielder's choice force at the plate and Jeff Howell lined into a double play at first base. The Blue Rocks would also have runners at first and second with no outs in the sixth inning and failed to even move the runners, let alone score thereafter.

The P-Nats chased Godin in the fourth inning after Davis followed a Marrero RBI single with a two-run triple. Gilbert De La Vara entered out of the bullpen and stranded the inherited runner, spinning 2.1 perfect innings of relief.

Russ Haltiwanger, making his first appearance since his activation off the disabled list two days ago, gave up three straight run-scoring hits in the seventh inning, all with two outs, to finish off the scoring. Brown doubled, Brian Peacock doubled and Francisco Plasencia shot a single of Haltiwanger's leg, with each blow producing a run. Henry Barrera struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings to finish the game.

The four-game, three-day series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday as the opener gets underway at 5:35 p.m. Right-hander Ed Cegarra (2-0, 2.77) goes for Wilmington in the opener against Potomac ace righty Adrian Alaniz (8-0, 2.43), the Carolina League leader in victories. In the nightcap, right-hander Chris Nicoll (2-1, 3.13) makes his first start of the season for the Blue Crew against winless righty Jhonny Nunez (0-6, 5.73). The Blue Rocks have been swept in each of their two prior doubleheaders this season (April 22 at Frederick & April 29 vs. Frederick).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: The Blue Rocks have lost back-to-back games for the first time since May 26-27 at Salem. Those losses have the Rocks at .500 for the first time since they were 27-27. The team has not dropped three straight games since a four-game losing skid from May 9-12.

The nine runs and 12 hits allowed by starter Jason Godin are the most surrendered by any Blue Rocks pitcher this season.

Position player Wilver Perez loosened in the bullpen during the ninth inning. He has appeared in one game before this season, on April 9 at Salem after a 14-inning game the night before. While he was warm, Barrera retired the last three he faced in the ninth and Perez was not needed.

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2008


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