CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks swept by Potomac

Published on May 7, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - In baseball there are going to be hot and cold streaks over the course of a 140-game season. Unfortunately for the Wilmington Blue Rocks they are mired in the middle of an Antarctic-type stretch at the plate. The Blue Crew dropped a pair of games to the Potomac Nationals on Thursday, dropping five games behind the P-Nats in the early stage of the race for the Carolina League North.

The evening began when a suspended seven-inning game opened play in the bottom of the sixth. The Rocks failed to plate a run in that contest, and they also were unable to score in the nine-inning game that followed. Wilmington dropped the opener 2-0 in eight frames, and they lost game two 1-0.

The setbacks resulted in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Nationals, and the Rocks record dropping three games under .500 for the first time in 2009.

The first contest picked up on Wednesday's rain-abbreviated pitcher's duel between Everett Teaford and Jeff Mandel. With both pichers out of the game it would be decided by the bullpens. Neither team managed a run in regulation, but in the first extra frame Potomac jumped on reliever Brandon Sisk.

The P-Nats loaded the bases in the inning with no outs, courtesy of a Danny Lyons single, a Francisco Plasencia double, and a Michael Burgess intentional walk. Sisk (0-2) responded though, inducing a 4-2-3 double play from Chris Marerro. But with two outs and two men on in scoring position, Jesus Valdez's single to right-center field plated a pair, and gave Potomac the victory.

In the nightcap, starting pitchers Alex Caldera and Bradley Meyers dominated. Caldera (0-2) struck out a career-high ten batters and walked only one. He held the P-Nats scoreless, and with only one hit through five innings. But the right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth.

Potomac opened the inning with a double to right field by catcher Brian Peacock. That was followed by a Boomer Whiting sacrifice bunt, which moved Peacock to third. It brought up Danny Lyons, who singled to left, scoring Peacock, and putting the P-Nats in front for good.

Wilmington would put its best threat together in the eighth. Ryan Eigsti began the frame with a single. He moved to second on a two-out hit by Derrick Robinson, but would go no further, as Johnny Giavotella struck out to end the inning.

Meyers (3-0) allowed only three hits in seven frames. The right-hander struck out eight and walked just one.

Reliever Andrew Kown nailed down the win with a one-two-three ninth. He struck out two and registered his third save of the season.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Potomac Nationals last swept the Rocks in a four-game series back in May of 2006.

The loss in tonight's opener dropped Wilmington's extra-innings record to 1-2.

Game two's start was delayed exactly one-half hour by rain.

Alex Caldera's 10 strikeouts in the nightcap marked the first time in 2009 a Blue Rocks pitcher reached double figures in punchouts. Both of Caldera's losses on the season have come in 1-0 games.

Bradley Meyers has now gone 23.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Meyers' seven innings of shutout ball lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.16.

The Rocks finished their seven-day six-game homestand with a 2-4 record.

Wilmington has now dropped four of their last five series.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2009


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