CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks take pitcher's duel

Published on July 10, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks used All-Star-caliber pitching and some early offense to edge the Potomac Nationals, 3-2, at Frawley Stadium on Thursday night. Everett Teaford won for the first time in over a month and Tyler Chambliss closed the door for his team-leading 15th save in 17 chances. Meanwhile, Wilmington scored all of its runs in the second inning thanks to a pair of two-out hits by Jeff Howell and Anthony Seratelli. The Blue Rocks (35-35, 9-11) have won two straight and three of their last four.

Wilmington got their first two men aboard in the second when Brad Corell led off frame with a double down the left field line and Cody Strait drew a walk against Potomac starter Jeff Mandel (3-2). Following a Josh Johnson strikeout and a Jeff Bianchi flyout, Howell blasted a double over the head of the shallow-playing Francisco Plasencia in center field to deliver both runners and produce a 2-0 Blue Rocks lead. In the next at-bat, Seratelli plated Howell from second with a liner over shortstop.

Potomac would chip away against Teaford for single runs in the third and fourth innings. An Aaron Seuss single and a double by Pat Nichols put runners at the corners with none out in the third, but the Wilmington southpaw would allow just an RBI groundout to Brian Finegan in the frame. Teaford yielded another run-scoring grounder in the fourth when Plasencia sent a high chopper to first that scored Andrew Lefave from third. But, the All-Star hurler struck out the next two men to deny any further damage.

Teaford fanned six and walked two over six innings of work while scattering just three hits. The Georgia Southern University product had been 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA over his previous four starts and had failed to spin a victory since he tossed 6.2 innings at Frederick on June 9.

The Blue Rocks bullpen backed up Teaford's top-notch work with three outstanding innings of relief. Aaron Hartsock allowed a single base hit over two shutout innings to bridge the game to the ninth.

But, the night would not pass without at least a twinge of controversy. The final frame began harmlessly enough when fireballer Henry Barrera fanned Lefave for the first out. But, in the next at-bat, Barrera's 2-0 pitch was ruled illegal according to base umpire Andy Dudones, who claimed the righty was breaking contact with the rubber prior to coming home. After a heated exchange between Dudones and Blue Rocks skipper Darryl Kennedy, Barrera finished a four-pitch walk to Dee Brown and was lifted in favor of Chambliss, Wilmington's All-Star closer. The former Florida State Seminole retired both men he faced, finishing the game with a strikeout of Brian Peacock.

The Blue Rocks try for the sweep of the Nationals at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night. Wilmington left-hander Paul Mildren (0-1, 3.27) will square off with righty Luis Atilano (0-0, 3.06) for Potomac.

GAME NOTES Wilmington improves to 18-14 in one-run contests this season.

Joe Dickerson stole second base in the sixth inning for his 24th swipe of the year. It is the first theft for the Blue Rocks outfielder since May 29. Dickerson ranks third in the Carolina League in steals, trailing teammates Derrick Robinson (42) and Jarrod Dyson (28).

Kurt Mertins and his team-best 17-game hitting streak were given the night off on Thursday.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from July 10, 2008


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