CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Fifth Loss in Six Games Against Pelicans Begins Road Trip

Published on July 21, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Myrtle Beach, SC - Eric Hosmer and Nick Van Stratten both hit in their Blue Rocks debuts, but they accounted for two of Wilmington's five total hits in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Tuesday night. The offense delivered little, putting only three men beyond second base all night. Starter Eduardo Paulino (3-6) took a tough loss, giving up one run over seven-plus innings. The Pelicans' Cole Miles proved the hero, going deep on a first-pitch swing to begin the sixth for the game's lone score. The Blue Rocks (49-44, 11-13) have lost five of six against the Pelicans. It marked Wilmington's 12th shutout loss of the season and just its second in a nine-inning road game.

Paulino retired 15 of 16 entering the eighth inning. Miles proved the only man able to reach in that time, doing so on his third home run of the season. In fact, the speedy diminutive outfielder also singled in the opening inning. He accounted for two of the three hits Paulino surrendered entering the eighth inning and finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases.

Robert Marcial doubled on the first pitch of the eighth and a great bunt by Chris Shehan intended to sacrifice him over went for a single to put men at the corners. Manager Brian Rupp lifted Paulino in favor of former Pelican Kelvin Villa, who took two losses in three days' time against the Fightin' Feathers just last week. Villa exacted some revenge, retiring three men in a row to strand both inherited runners.

Alas, the Blue Rocks went 0-for-3 with men in scoring position on the night. Starter Jose Ortegano (4-5) set the tone in the first inning. Johnny Giavotella hit a one-out single to left and one out later stole second. An errant throw down by catcher Jesus Sucre gave Giavotella third but Clint Robinson flied out to center.

Ortegano retired 12 in a row until Van Stratten picked up his first hit as a Blue Rock with a bouncing infield single off the mound and the pitcher in the fifth. He would never leave first base. Anthony Seratelli began the sixth with a single but Sucre nabbed him trying to steal second. With two outs, Giavotella doubled but Mike Moustakas struck out swinging. Ortegano allowed just four hits over six scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Hosmer earned his first Blue Rocks hit against right-handed reliever Brandon Beachy in the seventh. Van Stratten followed his one-out blow with a groundout to second, pushing Hosmer to second. Paulo Orlando tested Marcial at short with a broken bat bouncer to second, but Marcial made the tough play on the run to put out the former track star at first. Giavotella reached on a Marcial error to start the ninth, ending Beachy's night. Lee Hyde entered and retired three in a row to strand the runner and secure his second career save and first since 2006.

The series continues at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday evening. It will be a pitching rematch of the Rocks' lone win on the four-game set between these clubs last week. Right-hander Jason Godin (2-0, 1.93) will throw for the Blue Rocks against southpaw Richard Sullivan (2-6, 3.88). Godin allowed just one unearned run in that Thursday tilt over six superb innings to get his fist win as a starter since May 5, 2008.

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Carolina League Stories from July 21, 2009


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