CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Bomb Kinston, 9-1

Published on April 13, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - Blue Rocks second baseman Johnny Giavotella hammered home a career-best seven RBIs as Wilmington (3-2) crushed the Kinston Indians (2-3) on Monday night, 9-1. Giavotella bombed a pair of homers, including his first career grand slam, and tied the franchise's record for RBIs in a game. Four pitchers held Kinston to a single score on three hits. Among them, reliever Chris Chavez (2-0), who earned his second win on the young year with 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings. A Blue Rocks team that took 27 games to score nine runs in 2008 has plated at least nine scores three times over its first five contests of 2009.

A pair of four-run innings fueled the Wilmington offensive. The Rocks rallied from an early 1-0 deficit with a four-run second inning against starter Ryan Morris (0-1). Jeff Bianchi reached on a leadoff single and David Lough sacrificed him to second. After Paulo Orlando struck out, five straight Rocks reached base with two away.

Clint Robinson drove in the equalizer with a double to center and Ryan Eigsti followed with a single. After Adrian Ortiz walked to load the bases, Derrick Robinson reached on an error by shortstop Ronald Rivas that allowed everyone to advance safely, including Clint Robinson crossing home plate for a 2-1 lead. Giavotella punctuated the inning with a smacked single to left for a 4-1 advantage.

Wilmington starter Everett Teaford carried that momentum onto the mound, striking out five straight men between the second and third. He departed after reaching his pitch limit in the fifth inning, two outs shy of qualifying for the win. The returning All-Star allowed just one run on three hits over 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out six in total, using a deadly changeup with surgeon-like precision.

Giavotella hit his first Blue Rocks home run with two outs and the bases empty in the fifth, and delivered an even bigger blow in the seventh. Eigsti walked with one out and Ortiz followed with a first-pitch bunt single. Derrick Robinson reached on bunt single as well to load the bases and Giavotella wiped them clean with his second round-tripper of the night, another line-drive shot to left.

Brandon Sisk and Kelvin Villa each struck out a batter over a perfect inning of work to conclude the game.

The four-game series continues on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. The Blue Rocks' Opening Day starter, Alex Calera (0-0, 2.25), seeks his first Wilmington win against the seventh-ranked prospect in the Cleveland system according to Baseball America, southpaw Kelvin De La Cruz (1-0, 3.00)

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Monday was only the fourth time in franchise history a player drove in seven runs in a single game and the first time in a decade. Dave Willis was the last Blue Rock to accomplish the feat, knocking in seven scores on June 3, 1999 at Frederick.

The Carolina League record for RBIs in a game is an eye-popping 11. Dave Falcone turned the trick for Hagerstown on June 9, 1986. He hit two grand slams in the game.

The CL record for RBIs in only one inning checks in at a gaudy six. Three different men have done so over the 65-year history of the league, most recently, Jack Voigt of Frederick on August 3, 1989.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from April 13, 2009


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