CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Crooked Numbers Doom Rocks in Opening Night Setback

Published on April 4, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Salem Red Sox used six extra-base hits and two crooked numbers to hand the Wilmington Blue Rocks a season-opening 10-2 loss on Thursday at Frawley Stadium. Salem scored four times in the third inning and added five more runs in the seventh to blow open the game. Wilmington got a solo home run from prospect outfielder Kyle Isbel in the losing cause.

After Wilmington starter Daniel Lynch cruised through the first two innings, Salem got to him in the third. Nick Sciortino opened the frame with a double to left. One out later he came home on an RBI-triple to right by Ryan Fitzgerald. Tanner Nishioka and Pedro Castellanos followed with consecutive doubles and then Jagger Rusconi legged out an infield single to score Castellanos and cap off the four-run frame.

Lynch (0-1) did fan six in only three innings despite taking the loss.

Isbel got Wilmington's offense jumpstarted with a solo blast to start the fourth. The Rocks then had their best shot to get back into the game in the fifth. Dennicher Carrasco blooped a single to center and Brewer Hicklen worked a nine-pitch walk. Blake Perkins tried to sacrifice both into scoring position with a bunt, but an error by third baseman Garrett Benge scored Carrasco and put men at second and third with no outs.

Salem went to its bullpen and called on righty Eduard Bazardo, who promptly stranded all three inherited runners. Bazardo (1-0) followed that up with three more scoreless frames of his own en route to the victory.

After the Red Sox offense added a run in the sixth, they salted things away in a controversial seventh frame. Downs and Rusconi singled before Marino Campana launched a mile-high fly ball down the line in right. Wilmington thought it foul, umpire Reed Basner called it fair, much to the chagrin of the 5,619 in attendance at Frawley Stadium.

Wilmington looks to bounce back on Friday as its series-opening series against Salem continues at Frawley Stadium. Brady Singer makes his professional debut on the mound for the Rocks, while the Red Sox counter with righty Bryan Mata. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available at BlueRocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Kyle Isbel's fourth-inning home run marked the third consecutive season the Blue Rocks hit a dinger on Opening Night. Gabriel Cancel did it for the Blue Crew in the very first inning last year and Roman Collins left the park in game one of 2017. Wilmington also got a long ball in its home opener last season when Rudy Martin launched a sixth-inning solo shot.

The loss dropped Wilmington's all-time record on Opening Day to 14-13. The Rocks had won two straight openers prior to Thursday's setback.

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Carolina League Stories from April 4, 2019


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