CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Homers, Pouring Rain Dominate Suspended Game

Published on April 9, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Myrtle Beach, SC - Rey Navarro swatted a solo home run to deadlock Saturday night's game between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Myrtle Beach Pelicans at 5-all. Minutes later, hard rains brought about the tarp, a 30-minute delay and ultimately suspended play with Nick Francis at the plate and nobody out. The teams will conclude the game at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, with a scheduled nine-inning affair to follow.

South Carolina native Whit Merrifield began the game with a first-pitch bunt single for his first hit as a Blue Rock. Navarro singled him to third and Francis sent the former Gamecock home with an RBI double to right for a 1-0 Wilmington lead.

Travis Adair tied the contest with a solo homer to right in the second against starter Tyler Sample. However, the first home run allowed by Wilmington pitching would quickly be followed by the first batted dinger for the club. In the fourth, Jose Bonilla displayed great patience in turning an 0-2 count into a walk. Joey Lewis made that free pass matter when he blasted starter Robbie Erlin's next pitch over the fence in left-center for a 3-1 margin.

In the fifth inning, shortstop Alex McClure walked, took second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a fly-ball out and scored on a second wild pitch by reliever Kasey Kiker to make it 4-1.

The lead came crashing down thanks to the longball the very next half frame. Santiago Chirino reached on a Lewis error, Jared Bolden struck out and Leury Garcia took Chirino's place on a fielder's choice. Chirino stole second and third while Ryan Strausborger walked to end Sample's night. Sample's successor, southpaw Justin Marks, surrendered an RBI single to Chris McGuiness before Mike Olt belted an impressive three-run homer to left-center for a 5-4 Wilmington deficit.

Marks would settle from that point forward. After Jared Prince reached on an error, Marks retired 10 straight Pelicans to conclude his outing. The 5-4 margin held until Navarro's fourth hit of the night tied the contest.

Relievers figure to finish the suspended contest on Sunday. In the scheduled nine-inning affair, right-hander Jake Odorizzi, the prized piece in the Zack Greinke trade, is scheduled to make his first start as a Kansas City farmhand. The former top-ranked Brewers' prospect according to Baseball America will oppose righty Barret Loux. Broadcast coverage will begin with the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, at 1:30 p.m. with studio host Adam Dobrowolski on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

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Carolina League Stories from April 9, 2011


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