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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Groundhog Day for Wilmington in Lopsided Defeat

May 30, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - Another hot opponent, another lopsided loss for the Wilmington Blue Rocks (28-21). Casey Frawley's grand slam highlighted a six-run fourth inning by the Kinston Indians (25-24) that chased starter Tim Melville en route to a 9-1 series-opening thrashing. Kinston's 11th win in 13 games has it over .500 for the first time since it was 1-0. The Blue Rocks' fourth straight loss has them in second place for the first time since May 18.

Defensive miscues opened doors for Kinston's usually gentle offense early. The league's last-ranked team in batting average, runs scored and homers scratched out three unearned runs between the second and third innings on two total hits. Shortstop Alex McClure bounced a throw to first that allowed Justin Toole to reach with two outs in the second. Roberto Perez then worked a full count before delivering a hard comeback liner for an RBI single and a 1-0 margin.

In the third, the speedy Tyler Holt reached on a leadoff error when first baseman Juan Graterol dropped a throw from Melville after the pitcher knocked down a comebacker. Melville struck out the next two men, but walked Jeremie Tice on a 3-2 pitch and Adam Abraham followed with a two-run double to make it 3-0.

The competitive phase of the game vanished in the fourth. The Indians began the inning with five straight hits including an RBI single by Perez and Frawley's grand slam, the first for Kinston since May 24, 2010. Melville (5-5) then got Bo Greenwell to fly out before getting the hook. He allowed a season-worst eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. For the second straight day, Wilmington's starter failed to get through the fourth inning. On Sunday, Elisaul Pimentel allowed nine runs over 2.2 innings in a 9-3 loss at Myrtle Beach.

Reliever Brendan Lafferty entered and walked Tice on four pitches. Abraham doubled and Abner Abreu connected on a sac fly for a 9-0 score as the Indians scored six runs in the frame.

Kinston's Clayton Cook (5-3) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. McClure made him go to a full count before earning a walk to spark the frame. Two outs later, Rey Navarro sent Cook's first pitch into the right-center gap for an RBI triple. That would be the only hit for Wilmington on the night. Cook walked four and struck out five. Reliever Kyle Landis whiffed four more over three perfect innings of relief for his first save.

The four-game set continues at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The piggybacking duo of lefty Justin Marks (2-2, 5.48) and right-hander Tyler Sample (2-3, 2.84) tosses for the Blue Rocks in that order. They will face southpaw Giovanni Soto (4-3, 2.76). 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.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

In scoring six runs during their four-game losing streak, the Blue Rocks have hit .129 (16-for-124) with just six extra-base hits. That span includes a 4-for-23 (.174) mark with runners in scoring position.

The Blue Rocks had not allowed a grand slam since Aug. 25, 2010 when Potomac's Bill Rhinehart took Bryan Paukovits out of the park with the bases full.

Over the last two games, Wilmington's starting pitchers have combined for an ERA of 21.00.

Wilmington has tied its longest losing streak of the season at four games. The club last dropped four in a row when it was swept at Frederick from May 5-8.

Frederick doubled up Myrtle Beach on Monday, 8-4. The Keys' fifth straight win has lifted them into first place over the Blue Crew. Wilmington trails by just a half-game and stands even in the loss column, but the teams do not meet again on the first half.

Rey Navarro is now tied with Salem's Kolbrin Vitek for the league lead in triples with six.

Ryan Dennick tossed a perfect eighth inning for the Blue Rocks. He struck out two and lowered his season-long ERA to 2.51. The Carolina League has hit just .149 against him including an .067 (1-for-15) mark by lefties. Dennick has struck out 15 men in 14.1 innings of work.

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Carolina League Stories from May 30, 2011


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