CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

It's Deja Blue as Wilmington Walks Off

Published on August 18, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - For the second night in a row, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (58-66, 29-25) came through in a clutch spot with the bases loaded and two outs. They slipped by the Lynchburg Hillcats (65-60, 26-29) in walkoff fashion on Saturday night at Frawley Stadium in a 1-0 final.

In the ninth inning, the Rocks got the only run they needed. Against tough Lynchburg closer Juan Jaime, Cheslor Cuthbert opened the inning with a sinking liner to left center to get aboard. A wild pitch followed during the at bat to Nick Van Stratten, as Cuthbert moved into second base. Van Stratten then bounced a chopper to short that was high enough to move Cuthbert to third base, as Nick Ahmed threw out Van Stratten. An intentional walk followed to Geulin Beltre. Angel Franco was then called upon to pinch hit for Juan Graterol. Beltre took second on defensive indifference amidst an intentional pass to Franco. With the bases loaded, Luis Piterson poked the ball to Emerson Landoni at second with the infield drawn in. Landoni fired home for a solo out.

With the bases loaded and two out, Orlando Calixte stood in against Juan Jaime. He worked the count to 2-2 when he took a pitch right around knee height. It was deemed a ball, setting off anger and barking from the Hillcats in the dugout and on the field. With the count full, Calixte fouled off several pitches. Electing to continue with the fastball, Jaime threw one Calixte could handle as he dumped it into left field just out of a diving try of Dan Brewer. Beltre crossed home and the Blue Rocks streamed out of the dugout to mob Calixte as the group party drifted towards the shortstop area.

The best chances Lynchburg had came in the sixth and seventh innings. Both times, they were denied by center fielder Brett Eibner.

Facing Wilmington starter Brooks Pounders in the sixth, Landoni got aboard with a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice by Chad Comer. Mycal Jones stood in and lofted a flyball to center field. Eibner tracked it down in medium center and got a running start as he made the catch. With Landoni trekking for third, Eibner fired a one hopper that Cuthbert fielded cleanly, tagging Landoni on the home plate side of the bag to end the inning.

In the seventh, Ahmed led off with a single against Pounders. He reached third after a wild pickoff throw from the righty. Pounders rebounded to strikeout Brewer. Then Chris Garcia lifted a ball into shallow center field. Eibner made the catch as Ahmed tagged for home. The throw came home in plenty of time as Graterol applied the tag to extinguish the threat.

Pounders tossed his second start of seven innings in as many nods. He yielded three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Chase Boruff worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Robinson Yambati came on for a scoreless ninth, as he earned his second victory in three days.

Dimasther Delgado was great for Lynchburg. He logged six scoreless innings, surrendering four hits and a walk to go along with four strikeouts. Juan Jaime took the loss, his third, as he allowed that lone tally on three hits and three walks in 2.2 innings.

The Rocks finish this four-game series with the Hillcats on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Wilmington will throw RHP Leondy Perez (3-4, 4.02) while Lynchburg goes with RHP Gus Schlosser (13-5, 3.07). Broadcast coverage begins at 1:05 p.m. as studio host Rob Cunningham brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

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Carolina League Stories from August 18, 2012


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