CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

'Cats even series with Rocks

Published on June 30, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Southpaw Paul Mildren allowed five runs in his Carolina League debut and the Wilmington Blue Rocks dropped the middle game of their three-game set with the Lynchburg Hillcats, 6-3, at Frawley Stadium on Monday night. The Rocks had won seven straight over the Hillcats on the Riverfront dating back to last season, but never led on Monday en route to snapping their three-game overall winning streak. Lynchburg (5-6) jumps a game ahead of the Blue Rocks (4-7) for second place in the league's Northern Division second half standings.

The Australian-born Mildren (0-1) was received from Double-A Northwest Arkansas last Thursday and had compiled a 2-5 mark with a 6.89 ERA in 17 games between the Naturals and Triple-A Omaha this season. In his seminal Wilmington start, the lefty gave up four earned runs on seven hits over a season-high tying five innings.

The Hillcats took the game's first lead in the top of the first when the circuit's top hitter, Jim Negrych, doubled with two outs and scored on Jamie Romak's single to left. The lead was short-lived, though, as the Blue Rocks evened the ledger in the bottom half when Jeff Bianchi cracked his third double of the homestand and plated Derrick Robinson from third with two outs. The speedy Robinson started the frame with a two-base hit of his own and added his league-best 38th stolen base, which is three better than his previous career high.

Lynchburg regained control for good in the next half-inning, as Kent Sakamoto reached on a Kurt Mertins throwing error at the frame's outset and came home on Jared Keel's ninth homer of the season - a deep shot well into the left-field bullpen that gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage. The ‘Cats would add a pair onto their lead in the fourth after Eddie Prasch and Kris Watts singled ahead of a James Barksdale triple to deep right-center for a 5-1 Lynchburg lead.

Daniel Moskos (7-4), formerly the fourth overall pick in the 2007 June draft by Pittsburgh, had retired Wilmington in order in both the second and third innings before the Rocks touched the left-hander for two runs in the fourth, effectively halving the Hillcats' lead at 5-3. Following back-to-back singles by Joe Dickerson and Bianchi plus a Kurt Mertins flyout, Josh Johnson blooped a single to right that would have loaded the bases. However, a pair of bobbles by right fielder Miles Durham allowed Dickerson to scamper home with Wilmington's second run. Then, with two outs and runners at the corners, Moskos struck out Anthony Seratelli with a slider in the dirt, but the ball escaped to the backstop and allowed Bianchi to slide home safely.

The Blue Rocks appeared to inch a run closer in the fifth, but Bianchi was cut down at home when he attempted to score on a two-out single to right by Mertins. Durham fired a one-hop strike to catcher Kris Watts, who landed a perfect swipe tag on the Lancaster, PA native. The hit by Mertins extended his team-leading hitting streak to nine games, which is two shy of his season-best streak of 11.

Greg Holland replaced Mildren in the sixth, when the Hillcats added their sixth and final run on a two-out passed ball off the mitt of Rocks catcher Jeff Howell. Holland and fellow hard-throwing right-hander Henry Barrera combined to limit Lynchburg to a single hit with four strikeouts over the final four frames, but the Blue Rocks offense could not muster the ammunition to tie the game. The Blue Crew managed a single hit - a one-out single by Chris McConnell in the seventh - over four innings against the Hillcats bullpen duo of Blair Johnson and Moises Robles. Robles got the Rocks in order in the ninth for his third save of the season.

The Blue Rocks and Hillcats clash in the rubber game of their three-game set Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m., as the Rocks conclude their six-game homestand. Wilmington will dispatch righty Ed Cegarra (2-3, 4.71) to face Lynchburg's Michael Crotta (6-5, 5.65). Fans are invited to stay after the game for an Independence Day-themed fireworks show, sponsored by Bank of America.

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Carolina League Stories from June 30, 2008


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