CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Five-run Lead Evaporates In 11-10 Loss

July 22, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - While intense record-setting heat swarms the country, the two coldest offenses in the Carolina League heated up in kind at Grainger Stadium on Friday night. The Wilmington Blue Rocks (46-50, 10-17) and Kinston Indians (54-41, 16-10) entered the night bottom two in the loop in team batting average and runs scored. When the dust settled in their series opener, Kinston rallied from two deficits, one as large as five tallies, in an 11-10 win. Each squad collected 15 hits, including 10 total for extra bases.

Wilmington put its first six men on base, plating four of them in the first inning against Marty Popham. While action began in the bullpen, the man with Triple-A time settled and held the Rocks thereafter in the opening frame. After Kinston scratched out a run against Tyler Sample in the second, Ryan Stovall homered and Julio Rodriguez drove in his first RBI on his first base hit as a Blue Rock for a 6-1 lead.

Alas, it would make for the team's largest lead blown en route to a loss this season. A two-spot in the fourth was followed by a six-run sixth to chase Sample and put Kinston ahead, 9-6. Abner Abreu's two-run triple highlighted the scoring as Sample stood on the hook. He allowed nine runs on a dozen hits and two walks. He hit a batter and allowed a home run as his ERA shot up to 5.42.

The Blue Crew, which entered the night with losses in three of its first four games on this road trip, found the resolve to rally. A four-run seventh allowed the team to storm back for a 10-9 lead. The go-ahead blow came on Deivy Batista's RBI double to left-center off reliever Chris Jones. Batista entered the at-bat in a 9-for-68 funk. No Blue Rock would reach base again.

Kinston answered right back. Adam Abraham doubled to begin the seventh against Brendan Lafferty (2-3), while Abreu followed with a line-drive homer to left for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the night and the 11-10 score that went final.

Kyle Landis (4-0) hurled 1.1 perfect innings for the win. Preston Guilmet bolted down his 25th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

The Blue Rocks' final series ever at Grainger Stadium, barring a meeting in the Mills Cup Championship Series, continues at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The Blue Crew tosses southpaw Justin Marks (5-7, 4.52) against fellow lefty T.J. House (6-8, 4.19). Broadcast coverage begins at 6 p.m. as studio host Adam Dobrowolski brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics



Carolina League Stories from July 22, 2011


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