Blue Rocks rally in ninth comes up short

July 3, 2006 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release

Wilmington, DE --- The Wilmington Blue Rocks (35-35, 6-4) lost their second game in a row with a 6-5 loss to the Salem Avalanche (32-38, 4-6), Carolina League affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Blue Rocks rallied for two runs in the ninth and had the bases loaded but could not push across the tying run.

The Blue Rocks trailed 6-3 entering the inning but Jacoby Ellsbury started the rally with a two out walk then moved up to second on a stolen base. Iggy Suarez then walked and Jed Lowrie singled to load the bases up. Ellsbury came across to score on a wild pitch from reliever Jeff Wigdahl to make the score 6-4. The Blue Rocks scored their second run on another wild pitch allowing Lowrie to score and cut the lead to 6-5. Jeff Natale and Jeff Corsaletti each drew walks to load the bases up again.

Salem brought in their closer Rodrigo Escobar to face Andrew Pinckney who flew out to center on the first pitch he saw to end the threat and the game. Escobar recorded his 17 save of the year.

The Blue Rocks trailed 6-1 in the seventh inning but scored two runs to cut the lead in half. Mickey Hall began the inning with a double into the right field corner then moved up to third when Ellsbury singled. Suarez then connected for a sac-fly to right scoring Hall to trim the lead to 6-2 and moving up Ellsbury to third. Lowrie followed up with an RBI ground out to first for the Blue Rocks third run of the game.

The Rocks bullpen pitched the final five innings not allowing a run and surrendering just two hits to give the offense a chance to rally. Randy Newsom worked four innings striking out two and allowing just one base runner on a hit pitch. Ryan Schroyer worked the ninth and allowed two hits.

The Avalanche took a five run lead in the fourth inning plating four runs off starter Kevin Guyette for a 6-1 lead. The inning began with a triple from Neil Sellers then Jeff Mackor followed up with an RBI single to give Salem a 3-1 lead. With two outs in the frame and two runners on Drew Sutton connected for a two-run double to push the lead to 5-1. Edwin Maysonet came up next and hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that Lowrie could not handle allowing Maysonet to reach safely and Sutton to score for a 6-1 lead.

Guyette (0-1) took the loss in his home debut working four innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits. Guyette also walked two, struck out three and had one wild pitch.

The game began with each team plating a run in the first inning. Sutton drew a lead off walk then moved up to second on a stolen base. Francisco Caraballo drove Sutton home with a two-out single to give Salem a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Rocks answered in the bottom half of the first to tie the game at 1-1. Ellsbury singled then moved up to second with a stolen base. Ellsbury came around to score on Jeff Corsaletti's RBI single. It was Corsaletti's 37th RBI of the season tying him for the team lead with Ian Bladergroen.

The Avalanche reclaimed the lead in the second inning on the two-out RBI double from Ervin Alcantara scoring Mario Garza from second. Garza drew a one-out walk then moved up to second on a ground out.

The Blue Rocks wrap up their home stand and series with the Avalanche on Tuesday afternoon. Wilmington will send right-hander Gary Galvez (4-3, 4.62) to the mound while Salem will counter with righty Ronnie Martinez (2-4, 1.76). Game time is at 2:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Jacoby Ellsbury was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts and now has 23 on the season. Tops in the entire Red Sox organization and fourth best in the Carolina League. Ellsbury also tied the Blue Rocks franchise mark for most stolen bases in a single game.

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Carolina League Stories from July 3, 2006

• Pelicans put on early fireworks show, blast Nats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Warthogs early lead spoiled in 8-4 loss to Kinston - Winston-Salem Dash
• Blue Rocks rally in ninth comes up short - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Pelicans shut down Potomac hitters - Potomac Nationals
• Keys score first nine runs to drop Hillcats, 9-4 - Frederick Keys
• Kinston exploded for 12 hits in 8-4 win - Kinston Indians
• Villa Tabbed CL Pitcher Of The Week - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
• USA Baseball Returns to the Beach - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Bob Dylan at Ernie Shore Field - Winston-Salem Dash
• Wilmington Comes to Town for a Packed Homestand - Kinston Indians
• Hillcats score three late runs to win 5-4 - Frederick Keys

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