CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks drop trip opener, 4-3

Published on May 26, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Salem, VA - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (24-25) blew a pair of leads and dropped a 4-3 decision to the Salem Avalanche in the opener of their seven-game road trip Monday night. Memorial Day at Memorial Stadium did not go well for Canadian righty Matt Kniginyzky (1-5), who allowed all four runs over six innings of work to suffer his fifth loss of the season. Wilmington left eight men on base in the game, including four in scoring position as its offense sputtered late. The Salem bullpen retired the last 10 Blue Rocks hitters in a row. The Rocks failed in their first chance to surge above sea level since Opening Day when they had no record.

The sixth inning proved pivotal as three straight hits combined to score two runs, including a go-ahead score for the host Avalanche that would doom the Blue Crew. Jimmy Van Ostrand slammed a hanging breaking ball over shortstop for a one-out single, Koby Clemens doubled into the left-field corner and light-hitting Justin Tellam wholloped a nearly identical two-bagger that scored both runners for a 4-3 score. Tellam entered the at-bat just 6-for-47 (.128) at the plate this season.

With runners at the corners and nobody out, Chris McConnell grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Jarrod Dyson from third base for a 1-0 lead. But Salem responded with a two-spot in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by Jordan Parraz and a run-scoring double off the bat of Tim Torres for a 2-1 deficit.

The Blue Rocks tied the game and took a lead with single scores in the fourth and fifth. Jeff Howell doubled in the tying tally in the fourth, but was doubled off third base on a Dyson lineout that same inning. Anthony Seratelli pushed Wilmington ahead with a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth to score Kurt Mertins from third base.

Relievers Chris Nicoll and Tyler Chambliss each worked a scoreless inning out of the bullpen to keep the game close, but the Blue Rocks offense could not solve Salem relievers Chad Wagler (2-0) or Bryan Hallberg. Wagler went 3.1 scoreless, allowing just one hit. Hallberg pitched a perfect ninth including a strikeout to notch his first save.

The four-game series continues on Tuesday night at 7:07 p.m. Right-hander Jason Godin (2-4, 5.21) goes for Wilmington against fellow righty Corey Bass (1-4, 4.96). Game time is set for 7:07 p.m.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: The Blue Rocks lost a three-game winning streak overall and a four-game string of success head-to-head against Salem.

Wilmington dropped to 9-8 in one-run games with the loss.

Derrick Robinson logged the lone multi-hit effort for the Blue Rocks, his team-leading 16th such effort of the year. The speedy center fielder finished 2-for-5 with a pair of infield singles. He also struck out twice, upping his team-high total to 46.

Kurt Mertins went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. Mertins three-bagger ties him with Joe Dickerson for the team lead. Mertins has tripled in three straight games.

Speaking of Joe Dickerson, the right fielder worked his way on base thrice on the night, going 1-for-2 with a walk, a steal and was hit by a pitch. He leads the squad with seven bruises this season.

The Blue Rocks went 2-for-3 in stolen bases as a squad, bringing their stolen base total to 115 this season - tops in all of minor league baseball. They are on pace to swipe 329 this season, which would shatter the franchise (171, 1998) and Carolina League (293, 1980) records.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 26, 2008


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