CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Brooks Brilliant, Rocks Extend Winning Streak

Published on May 21, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


WILMINGTON, DE-Aaron Brooks (2-3) turned in the finest pitching performance by a Wilmington Blue Rocks hurler all season, tossing eight shutout innings, as the Rocks staved off a late rally to defeat the Lynchburg Hillcats 4-3 on Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium. Brooks' effort was the longest outing by a Blue Rocks pitcher in 2013. With the victory, the team has run its winning streak to three straight games (21-23), one short of its 2013 season-high.

In cruise control all night, Brooks surrendered a single to Matt Lipka to open the game, but would scatter only four more throughout the rest of the affair. Baserunners also were scarce. After retiring Robby Hefflinger to end the first, Brooks retired 12 consecutive batters before issuing a single to Ross Heffley with two outs in the fifth.

Lynchburg starter A.J. Holland (3-2) also got off to a strong start, setting down eight straight Blue Rocks to open the contest, but Wilmington finally cracked the right-hander in the fourth. Daniel Mateo started off the frame with a flare single to left, and moved up to second following a walk to Lane Adams. Cheslor Cuthbert then came through with a man in scoring position, doubling home Mateo to make it 1-0 Blue Crew. Later in the frame, Adams would score as well, on an RBI single by Kenny Diekroeger.

In the fifth, Wilmington stretched its lead further. Following a fielder's choice by Justin Trapp, Mateo singled his teammate to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Holland then walked Adams to load the bases. Desperate for a double play, the Hillcats starter got Cuthbert to hit a groundball to the right side, but the throw was mishandled by shortstop Elmer Reyes, allowing two more Blue Rocks to score.

Hitting 84 pitches, and with a 4-0 lead in his back pocket, Brooks would exit after eight innings. Robinson Yambati took his place, but struggled to close out the Hillcats. With men at the corners and one out, Jack Lopez mishandled a groundball at shortstop to cut the deficit to three, while an RBI single by Kyle Kubitza made it 4-2. A Ross Heffley sacrifice fly brought one more run across, however, Yambati stranded the tying run in scoring position, as a groundout by Reyes ended the game.

Wilmington and Lynchburg play the middle game of their three-game affair on Wednesday night at Frawley Stadium. Right-hander Kyle Zimmer (0-3, 4.86) takes the hill for the Blue Crew and will be opposed by Hillcats righty Ryan Webber (2-1, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and can be heard on 89.7 WGLS-FM, or on Bluerocks.com. For ticket information, call 302-888-BLUE or visit Bluerocks.com.

Pebbles of Knowledge:

Aaron Brooks picked up his second straight win, and he did it in dominating fashion. Working eight shutout innings, the start was the second-longest in Brooks' career (last July he threw a nine-inning complete game while pitching for Low-A Kane County). Retiring 12 straight at one point, it marked the third time in 2013 that Brooks had retired 10 batters or more in a single stretch. Ultra efficient, the California native threw 84 pitches over eight innings, and never threw more than 14 in a given inning. That was due in large part to 13 groundball outs.

Coming into Tuesday night only 3-for-15 over his last four games, Daniel Mateo busted out of his mini-slump, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored on Tuesday night. It was Mateo's fourth three-hit game of the season, and his first since April 30 against the Salem Red Sox. Tuesday's game also jolted the switch-hitters batting average back up to .248, the highest it has been in a week.

Justin Trapp has now reached base in each of the last 12 games he has played, thanks to a single off Hillcats starter A.J. Holland in the bottom of the third. Over his last 10 ballgames, Trapp is hitting an even .300 (12-40) with five runs batted in. Meanwhile, Trapp put an end to a more dubious streak on Tuesday, as the South Carolina native did not make an error for the first time in four games.

Robinson Yambati walked the tightrope against the Hillcats, allowing three runs (one earned) but managed to finish off Lynchburg for the Blue Rocks third straight win. Following a solid April, where the hard-throwing righty posted three saves and a 3.18 ERA over seven games, he has recorded an ERA of 15.00 over four games (including one loss). During that stretch he has allowed five earned runs over only three innings. The central issue for Yambati has been command, as he has walked 12 in 14.1 innings. However, Tuesday marked the first time in 2013 that he did not issue a walk or throw a wild pitch in a game.

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Carolina League Stories from May 21, 2013


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