CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Late Offense Lifts Rocks To 7-2 Victory

Published on April 17, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - The Wilmington Blue Rocks busted the Kinston Indians bullpen with multiple crooked numbers in a 7-2 come-from-behind win on Thursday night. The victory secured a series win and winning road trip for the now 5-3 Blue Rocks. Top prospect Mike Moustakas had a hit hat trick, recording three hits on the night that included a clutch two-out, two-run double to give the Rocks a lead they would not relinquish in the seventh. Ray Liotta (1-0) earned his first win with 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and Brandon Sisk closed the door with a couple of scoreless frames for his second save in as many tries. The Rocks return to Wilmington for their home opener on Friday night riding their first winning streak of the 2009 season.

Down 2-1 in the seventh, consecutive first-pitch swings set up Moustakas' game-winning blow. It began innocently enough, with a one-out infield single by Derrick Robinson. First baseman Matt McBride got leather on the bouncing ball with a dive, but could not clean squeeze it. On the very next pitch, Johnny Giavotella went opposite way with a hit-and-run single to right, allowing the speedy Robinson to take third. Then came Moustakas. The 20-year-old phenom showed the depths of his hitting prowess by going opposite way himself for the two-base hit against reliever Heath Taylor (0-1). Left fielder Roman Pena gambled, but his head-first dive came up empty and Giavotella scored all the way from first base.

Wilmington batted around in a four-run ninth to salt the victory. Two-out hits and an error resulted in the scores. Giavotella singled to center and two batters later, found third base on a hit-and-run single off the bat of Jeff Bianchi. A squeeze attempt failed thereafter. David Lough's bunt was nimbly fielder by pitcher Garrison Campbell who tossed home for catcher Alex Castillo to tag out Giavotella. But the Blue Rocks were not done just yet.

With two down, Paulo Orlando fought back from an 0-2 count to foul off a series of pitches. Ultimately, he shot a lazy looper down the right-field line that fell just fair. Orlando, a world-class sprinter in his native Brazil, worked a double out of his blow that scored Bianchi who had stolen third base during the at-bat. Then came Clint Robinson, who had been held hitless over his four prior plate appearances. Robinson would not be denied on this occasion, as the Troy University product plated both baserunners with a double to left-center. Matt Morizio's single moved Robinson to third, and shortstop Ronald Rivas errantly threw wild to first base fielding an Anthony Seratelli grounder that produced the frame's final score.

The night did not begin in grand fashion. A couple of errors equaled an unearned run on starter Eduardo Paulino in the first inning and a pair of balks meant a second score in the third. But Paulino allowed just those two tallies over 3.2 innings. He scattered six hits, walked two and struck out one. Liotta entered with a man on and two outs in the fourth and required just one pitch to induce a 6-3 groundout from Adam Davis. The former White Sox farmhand did not allow a single man beyond second base, nor more than one man to reach period during his middle-innings bridge work.

An infield single that began the second against Sisk made the eighth inning interesting. McBride reached on the knock, took second on a Matt Brown sacrifice bunt and third on a Rivas right-side groundout. Sisk held a cool composure, attacking Pena for a strikeout looking to strand the man at third base. The hard-throwing lefty left no doubt in the ninth, retiring the side 1-2-3.

The comeback effort spoiled a solid start by Kinston lefty Eric Berger. The North Carolina native struck out an impressive eight men and allowed only one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. He avoided a big inning by stymieing a bases-loaded threat in the fourth. Singles from Moustakas and Bianchi were followed by a four-pitch walk to Lough to load 'em up. Berger struck out Orlando looking and got Clint Robinson to line out to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, who tried to turn two but errantly bounced his throw to second into the outfield. Moustakas scored, while the others advanced. Morizio worked a 3-0 count and Kinston manager Chris Tremie ordered the fourth pitch intentionally out of the zone. With the sacks full, Seratelli struck out swinging at a fastball away to strand the sacks full.

Wilmington will play its home opener at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night with the first of three against the Lynchburg Hillcats (Pittsburgh Pirates). For tickets, call 302-888-BLUE, visit bluerocks.com or buy tickets in person at the box office. Right-hander Mario Santiago (0-1, 15.00) will get the start for the Blue Crew against lefty Chi-Hung Cheng (0-0, 0.00). The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a magnetic schedule for the 2009 season, courtesy of Healthy Smiles of Delaware.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Clint Robinson's ninth-inning double extended his season-opening hitting streak to seven in seven games played.

Catcher Matt Morizio gunned down three would-be base stealers in three tries. He nabbed Adam Davis at second base in the second inning, Cord Phelps at third base in the third, and Roman Pena at second base in the fourth.

The Blue Rocks lead the CL with a 2.82 team ERA, including a 1.54 mark by their relievers.

Kinston went 0-for-10 as a squad with runners in scoring position.

In winning three games on the four-game set, the Blue Rocks outscored Kinston 22-6.

Of the Blue Rocks five wins, three have been earned in come-from-behind fashion

Liotta's win was his first since August 21, 2008, also at Kinston.

Wilmington has outscored the opposition 11-0 in ninth-inning play this year, and 26-8 from the seventh inning on.

Thursday's win saw the Blue Rocks bang out an early season-high 13 hits.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from April 17, 2009


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