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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Game Notes for August 9

August 9, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


ALL GOOD THINGS:Thirteen proved an unlucky number on Saturday night as the Blue Rocks' franchise-record winning streak stalled at a dozen with a 9-0 loss to the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium. It was a bad sign when Potomac posted more runs in the first inning (3) than it had in the first two games of the series combined (2). And one crucial call that went the hosts' way paved the path to an even more crooked number in the second, putting the Blue Rocks in a deficit they could not overcome. It marks the team's 13th shutout loss of the season and sixth at the hands of their nemesis. Potomac has forced a virtual tie for first place.

EARLY HOLE:Three straight hits and a sacrifice fly made it 3-0 in the first frame. Michael Burgess doubled in two and Chris Marrero added the sac fly. In the second, a major call helped steer the direction of the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Jesus Valdez grounded a ball to short. Anthony Seratellifielded and flipped to second for one, but Johnny Giavotella's relay throw to first went tall.

THE CALL:However, it appeared Eric Hosmerhad his foot on the bag to retire Valdez for an inning-ending double play. Alas, base umpire Kolin Kline ruled that the runner beat Hosmer's foot to the base for an RBI fielder's choice. After an argu- ment from manager Brian Rupp, Burgess followed the suspect decision with an impressive shot to center for a three-run homer, ending Alex Caldera's night.

HISTORY REPEATS:Caldera (4-9)allowed seven runs over just 1.2 innings, tying his career-shortest start. He last went 1.2 on July 28, 2007 while with the Rookie Burlington Royals as a first-year pro. In three starts against Potomac, Caldera is 0-3 with all three losses coming in shutout fashion. Six of his nine overall losses have come in team shutout defeats.

STREAK SNAPPEDII:Carlos Rivas entered and struck out Marrero. In the third though, the first three men reached and two scored before Rivas recorded an out. Tim Pahuta walked, Dan Nelson singled and Devin Ivany doubled in the duo with a gapper to left-center for the 9-0 score that would go final. Those third-inning runs snapped the bullpen's streak at 33.0 innings without allowing an earned run.

ON THE RECORD: The CLmark for most consecutive wins is 16, set by Winston-Salem in 1950. The modern-day record (post-1960) is 14, set by Salem in 2006. The Rocks ended Salem's run with a 4-1 road win over the Avs on August 30.

HISTORY SAYS:Ten different CLteams have won 12 or more games in a row in the loop's 65-year history. Only twice has that team won the league title. The 1950 Winston-Salem team took the first of the franchise's all-time high 11 crowns. Also, the 2002 Lynchburg Hillcats won the most recent of their five titles.

STREAK SNAPPED III:Not only did a franchise-record 12-game winning streak overall come to a close, the loss also snapped a franchise-record-tying six- game winning streak on the road. It was the team's sixth such string of success.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE:The nine-run margin of defeat is the second-largest for the Blue Rocks this season. It trails only a 12-2 rain-shortened setback at Winston Salem on June 13 in a seven-inning game. The nine runs allowed mark the most for Wilmington all second half and the most since that same 12-2 defeat.

SILVER LININGS:Nick Van Strattenwent 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 10. Johnny Giavotellawent 2-for-4 with a double and Clint Robinsondid the same. Blue Rocks pitching retired 18 of the last 19 Potomac batters after the Devin Ivany two-run double in the third. Reliever Danny Gutierrezlogged his longest outing as a Blue Rock with three scoreless innings. The announced crowd of 6,614 marks the largest for a Rocks road game in ‘09.

DOMINANT DOZEN:Over their record-setting 12 consecutive wins, the Blue Rocks hit .286 (112-for-391), posted a 2.00 ERA(24ER in 108.0IP) and outscored their foes 60-26 (5.0-2.2/g).

GOODFELLA: No stranger to the CL, former White Sox farmhand Ray Liottapitched for Win-Sal in parts of 2005-06, going 7-8 with a 4.50 ERAin 18 games (17 starts). Taken by Chicago in the second round of the 2004 draft (69th overall), Liotta went 19-6 in 42 games over his first two pro seasons before shoulder problems prompted surgery in Aug. 2007. He threw well in four nods with Wilmington late last season.The distant cousin of the actor by the same name has allowed just two earned runs over his last 24.1IPsince May 27. In a remarkable coincidence, Brad Peacock plays on the same team as catcher Brian Peacock. While both hail from south Florida, they are not related. Coincidentally, the Royals have a Brian Peacock pitching in the Rookie Arizona League.Brad went just 5-8, 4.05 in 19G (17S) for Low-AHagerstown to start 2009. He went 3-0 over his last three outings (1.69 ERA) before his promotion. A41st-round pick in 2006, Peacock has allowed four runs in each of his first two CLoutings (one start). He comes off a loss at Fre on Tue. (3.1 IP, 9H, 4R, 2BB, K, WP) working behind a rehabbing Jordan Zimmerman.

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