CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks Game Notes for July 25

Published on July 25, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


ABOUT LAST NIGHT:Eric Hosmerdoubled home a run with two outs in the ninth inning to put himself in scoring position as the tying run, but a gutsy comeback bid fell short in a 3-2 loss to the Kinston Indians on Friday night. Hosmer finished the game 2-for-4 with that double, an RBI and a run scored. He has hits in each of his first four games with the Blue Rocks. Wilmington never held a lead in posting its fourth loss in five meetings with the league's worst team.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE:Kinston starter Russell Young (3-5) had retired 18 of 19 entering the ninth inning, allowing just five hits, all singles. Johnny Giavotellabegan the frame with a bang, doubling the first pitch he saw down the left-field line. But Young struck out Mike Moustakasand induced a groundout from Clint Robinsonto put the pressure on Hosmer. The youngest Rock worked a full count and delivered his first Advanced-Aextra-base hit, a double to left-center.

YANKED:K-Tribe manager Chris Tremie made the move to his bullpen and Kyle Landis. One pitch later, Nick Van Strattenbounced out to short as Landis locked down his second save in three tries. Young fell just one out shy of the CL's second nine-inning complete game this season. It would have been Kinston's first since J.D. Martin went all nine to defeat Wilmington in Game Five of the 2004 Mills Cup Championship Series at Frawley Stadium.

GROUND ASSAULT:Young worked 15 outs on the ground and five in the air. He gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and no walks over 8.2 innings.

ON THE CALL:Wilmington starter Alex Caldera (3-8)struggled in the opening inning, walking in a run to put the Indians on top, 1-0. He minimized damage, stranding the bases loaded that inning and his teammates knotted the game with an unearned run in the second. With two outs and Hosmer at second, Paulo Orlando singled through the right-side hole. Right fielder Roman Pena clean missed his charge of the ordinary ball for an error, allowing Hosmer to score after he had stopped at third. Pena collected a go-ahead RBI with a two-out double in the fourth and Lonnie Chisenhall belted his team-leading 16th home run for Kinston against Caldera to begin the fifth. Caldera went five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out three.

BULLISH‘PEN:Relievers Zach Petersonand Kelvin Villacombined on three scoreless innings out of the bullpen thereafter to give Wilmington a shot. 50-50: Derrick Robinsongot his 50th stolen base of the season when he took second in the third inning to become the first ever Blue Rock to steal 50 bases in a season twice. No other player has done it once. The single-season franchise record stood at 49 until Robinson led the league with 62 a season ago. Carlos Febles (1997)set the record. He currently serves as hitting coach to former Blue Rocks manager Chad Epperson (2006)with the Salem Red Sox.

HISTORY LESSON:J.D. Martin just made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals on Monday. Martin's starting opposition in that Sept. 15, 2004 playoff game was Devon Lowery, who became the 100th ever former Blue Rock to make the big leagues as a September call-up last season.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:Zach Peterson's two scoreless innings lowered his ERAto 1.02 in 10 games as a Rock...He has lasted at least two innings in six consecutive outings...The Rocks went 2-for-9 with men in scoring position...Hitting coach Justin Gemollfilled in for manager Brian Ruppin the third-base coaching box...Infielder Chase Fontainecoached at first...The loss dropped Wilmington to 5-11 in Friday games, its worst record on any day of the week.

SUPER MARIO: Since being named CLPitcher of the Week on June 15, Mario Santiagohas lost six of his last seven nods. No Blue Rocks starter receives less run support (2.9/g), including just 19R over his last 8GS (2.4/g). Selected in the 16th round of the 2005 draft, the Puerto Rico native stands tied for the third-most losses in MiLB. The second time through the order has been his undoing. Through three innings, his ERApops at 2.50, from the fourth through the seventh, his ERArises to a cumulative 6.42.In 3GS against Kinston, he is 1-1, 2.70 with 17Ks in 16.2 IP. NC native EricBerger, who was born just a 30-minute drive from Kinston, starred w/SS-AMahoning Valley as a first-year pro in ‘08. He went 2-0, 2.12and struck out 41 in 34.0 IP(10.9/9 IP). The former Univ. of Arizona Wildcat ranks among the CL's best in ERA (2nd)and strikeouts (4th, 87). In 3GSagainst Wilmington, the All- Star is 1-1, 2.25 with 16Ks in 16.0 IP. But since he beat Santiago on Jul. 3 at WIL, he has lost two of his last three, posting a 4.02 ERA. Of his four homers allowed in 100.1 IP, three have come in that span.

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Carolina League Stories from July 25, 2009


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