Late Inning Heroics Earn Rocks Doubleheader Sweep
Published on June 6, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (26-33) used late inning heroics in both games of their doubleheader against the Lynchburg Hillcats (26-28) with a 4-1 victory in the first game before putting together a pair of two-out rallies in the second game to earn a 6-5 win Wednesday night at Frawley Stadium. Kort Peterson hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the first contest while Gabriel Cancel smacked a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two to push the Rocks' season-long win streak to five games.
GAME ONE
In game one of their third doubleheader of the season the Blue Rocks used a three-run sixth inning to pull away with the victory. Tied 1-1 heading to the decisive frame, Khalil Lee led the inning off with a double. With a 3-0 count, Peterson smashed a two-run homer over the centerfield wall to put the Rocks out in front 3-1. Wilmington added an insurance run four batters later when Oliver Nunez blooped a single to left field to score Cancel to give the game its final score.
The Blue Rocks were handed their first run of the game in the bottom of the first. After two strikeouts to open the game, Lee kept the inning alive with a single to right. Lee then stole second successfully and advanced to third on an error by Hillcats' center fielder Conner Capel. A wild pitch by Sam Hentges got behind the catcher and was just far enough for Lee to come home and put the Rocks on top 1-0.
Lynchburg came up with an immediate response in the top of the second. With runners on second and third, Logan Ice hit a two-out RBI single to left to tie the game at 1-1. Daniel Tillo worked five innings and allowed just one run in a no-decision while Vance Tatum picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief and Julio Pinto earned his first save as a Blue Rock.
GAME TWO
In the second game, the Hillcats struck first on an RBI single from Li-Jen Chu to make it a 1-0 deficit for the Rocks. Wilmington quickly responded with a run-scoring single through the middle to tie the game, 1-1. The Blue Crew added a pair of runs in the second inning when Angelo Castellano doubled home Vance Vizcaino. Later in the inning, Castellano was almost caught stealing third base, but on the pickoff attempt, Lynchburg's second baseman Dillon Persinger's throw hit Castellano in the helmet and bounced into the Hillcats' dugout to give Castellano home plate to push the Rocks ahead 3-1.
Lynchburg authored a comeback in the third inning and sent nine men to the plate and scored three runs, highlighted by a two-run triple by Emmanuel Tapia to put the Rocks behind 4-3. Chu added his second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-3 ballgame. The rallying Rocks formulated a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wilmington loaded the bases with a two-out single and two walks before Meibrys Viloria lined a game-tying single to left field to tie the game, 5-5.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Rocks did it again with two outs. After Vizcaino reached on a single, Castellano flew out for the second out of the inning. D.J. Burt was then intentionally walked to set the dramatics for Gabriel Cancel. The second baseman ripped a single to left field to plate Vizcaino from second to put the Rocks out in front 6-5.
Closer Bryan Brickhouse came out for the top of the seventh inning and shut the door on Lynchburg with a clean inning to earn his 10th save of the season.
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
With his two-run homerun in game one, Kort Peterson now leads the Blue Rocks with seven homers on the season. He is now tied for seventh place in the Carolina League homerun race. Peterson also tied Emmanuel Rivera for the team lead in multi-RBI games with eight. The outfielder went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, a home runs, three RBI, and drew a pair of walks in the twin bill.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Rocks have won their first doubleheader of the season. Previously, the Blue Rocks lost their last doubleheader to the Red Sox in Salem and split their first series at home against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Wilmington is riding a five-game win streak for the first time this season. The last time the Rocks won five in a row was from July 10-14 of last season. Wilmington took the last two games of the series at Salem over the weekend and returned home to take three games from the Lynchburg Hillcats. In the 6-5 win in game two the Rocks earned their 15th come-from-behind victory of the season.
Wilmington closer, Bryan Brickhouse celebrated his 26th birthday in style on Wednesday night. Brickhouse came in the top of the seventh in game two and earned his 10th save of the year. He would earn a strikeout, a groundout, and a fly out to blow out the candles and earn his tenth save of the season. Brickhouse is still tied with Down East's C.D. Pelham for the league lead in saves.
Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2018
- Mudcats Rally Back Late to Walk-Off Wood Ducks 3-2 in Ten - Carolina Mudcats
- Late Inning Heroics Earn Rocks Doubleheader Sweep - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Sox Wallop Winston-Salem 9-4 Wednesday - Salem RidgeYaks
- Wood Ducks Fall in Extras to the Mudcats - Down East Wood Ducks
- Winston-Salem Drops Middle Match to Red Sox - Winston-Salem Dash
- Bats Stay Hot for Potomac in 6-1 Victory OverFrederick - Potomac Nationals
- Galindo, Lange Help Pelicans Thwart Late Astros Rally - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (June 6 vs. Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
- June 6 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- RHP Bailey Clark placed on the 7-day disabled list - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, June 6 at Buies Creek - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Former Keys Catcher Wynns Makes MLB Debut - Frederick Keys
- Blue Rocks Big Inning Leads to Blowout of Hillcats - Hill City Howlers
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