Blue Rocks Game Notes
Published on June 27, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
BIG NIGHT: These are not the first-half Wilmington Blue Rocks. The team's most lopsided win of the year coincided with its most prolific run-scoring performance as the Blue Crew topped the Potomac Nationals on Tuesday evening, 11-2. The team that averaged a league-low 3.2 runs/game through its first 70 games has begun the second stanza with 35 runs scored over a six-game span. A day removed from snapping a 10-game road losing streak, Wilmington logged its first pair of road wins on consecutive days since May 16-17.
ROAD ROCKETS: Cheslor Cuthbert's two-run homer last night was his fifth as a Blue Rock and the team's 38th of the year. An amazing 33 (87%) of those dingers have come away from Frawley Stadium.
FORE!: Cuthbert set a personal season-high mark and tied for the team's best single-game showing of the season with four RBIs last night.
EXPLOSIVITY: In the first half, the Blue Rocks scored just 227 runs for a league-low 3.2 runs/game average. Despite playing two seven-inning games and being held to one run on Sunday, Wilmington has scored 35 runs over its first six games of the second stanza for an average of 5.8 runs/game. The team that hit 31 home runs over the 70-game first half, the second-lowest total in the league, has bashed seven early in the second. The Blue Crew hit a league-worst .231 in the first half but owns a .273 contact clip so far this half.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: This series marks the start of divisional foes only for Wilmington over a stretch of 13 straight and 17 of 20. The Rocks are 17-34 against Southern Division squads and 14-11 against their brothers in the North.
NATIONALISM: The Blue Rocks are 6-3 against Potomac. The only other team that has tasted defeat more than triumph against the Blue Crew is Frederick. Wilmington is 5-4 against the Keys. Vance Wilson's club has outhit Potomac .269-.225, outscored it 46-25 and has a 2.86 ERA against the P-Nats compared to a 4.73 mark for Brian Rupp's bunch.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Yesterday saw a rare home setback for Potomac hit the ledger. With a 24-16 record at Pfitzner Stadium the P-Nats have the best home mark in the Northern Division. They had not lost consecutive home games since April 30-May 1 against Winston-Salem. Only the squad with the league's best overall record, Winston-Salem, and the Dash's first-half runner up in the South, Salem, have better home marks. Winston-Salem is 25-13 at BB&T Ballpark while Salem has gone 21-13 at Memorial Stadium. Despite falling just short of tying the franchise record for consecutive road losses, the Blue Rocks do not boast the CL's worst away mark. Coincidentally enough, that belongs to Potomac at 10-26.
TEAM EFFORT: Every man in Wilmington's lineup last night had a hit and/or an RBI. Seven of the nine had a hit while six of the nine drove in at least one score.
GIVE ME LIBERTO: Utility infielder Michael Liberto has been sent to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In six games with Wilmington he hit .286 (4-for-14) with a pair of walks, one strikeout and a run scored.
HEY, I KNOW YOU: In a corresponding move, right-hander Elisaul Pimentel returns to Wilmington from Double-A and makes the start tonight. Pimentel spent most of last season in a Wilmington uniform.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Repeating right-hander Tyler Sample turns 23 today.
Carolina League Stories from June 27, 2012
- Potomac Claims Finale, Splits Series - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hendricks Shuts Down Hillcats in Series Finale - Hill City Howlers
- Hendricks Goes the Distance in 5-1 Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Holder and Nationals Earn Series Split - Potomac Nationals
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Leadoff Woes Prove Costly - Frederick Keys
- Winston Prevails 5-3 to Split Four-Game Set - Salem RidgeYaks
- Winston-Salem Dash: Hankerd's Homer Paces Dash - Winston-Salem Dash
- Mudcats Lock up Keys - Carolina Mudcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Blue Rocks Pound Potomac, 11-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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