CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks drop pitcher's duel

Published on June 19, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - With a chance to not only take a series from their Northern Division rivals but also clinch a winning homestand, the Wilmington Blue Rocks sleepwalked through a 2-1 defeat to the Frederick Keys on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium. The Rocks (1-2) conjured up just four hits and one run in support of starter Mario Santiago, who lost for the first time in six starts at his home park this season. Wilmington lost two of three to the Keys and wrapped up its seven-game, eight-day Riverfront stay with a 3-4 mark.

The Keys took the game's first lead with a run in the top of the second inning. With runners at second and third and one out, Mike Pierce plated Chris Vinyard with a fielder's choice to shortstop.

Pierce struck again in the fourth inning and put the visitors ahead 2-0 with his second home run of the season. The opposite-field shot over the right-center field fence was the sixth long ball surrendered by Santiago on the season.

Santiago (5-4) allowed a pair of runs on six hits over five innings of work. He struck out five and walked one, but did not receive the requisite support to run his team-best winning streak to five games. The Puerto Rican righty had not lost a start since a May 1 setback at Winston-Salem. He had been 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five prior starts at Frawley.

The only Blue Rocks tally came after Santiago had departed. The Blue Crew advanced their initial runner past first base in the sixth, when Jarrod Dyson drew a leadoff walk against starter Kyle Schmidt and moved to second on his 26th stolen base. Two outs later, with Dyson still anchored to second, Kurt Mertins delivered a hard drive into the right-center gap for a run-scoring double.

That was the last threat the Rocks would mount, as the Keys bullpen duo of J.P. Martinez and Newark native Zach Clark held the Rocks hitless over the final three frames. Clark, a product of Newark High School, retired the Blue Rocks 1-2-3 in the ninth for this first save.

Schmidt (2-3) scattered four hits and a run over six innings. He fanned four and issued just one walk.

Wilmington will play its final three games before the Carolina League All-Star Break down in Winston-Salem, NC. The three-game set with the Warthogs opens Friday night at 7 p.m., as the Rocks send All-Star lefty Everett Teaford (4-1, 2.79) against 'Hogs righty Matt Zaleski (3-2, 3.81).

GAME NOTES With Thursday's loss, the Blue Rocks fell to 14-11 in one-run games this season.

All-Star right fielder Joe Dickerson had two of Wilmington's four hits. He was 2-for-4 and is now hitting .373 in 17 games this month.

Though Jarrod Dyson was successful on a stolen base attempt, the Blue Rocks were just 1-for-3 in steals on Thursday. Dickerson and Anthony Seratelli were each gunned down at second base by catcher Mike Pierce.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from June 19, 2008


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