CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Lineup Change Benefits Blue Rocks

Published on April 10, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Zebulon, NC - A last-second lineup change benefitted the Wilmington Blue Rocks (2-3) as a cold Luis Piterson drove in two tallies in a 3-2 defeat of the Carolina Mudcats (3-2) on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium. Usual shortstop Alex McClure was removed from the lineup shortly before the game's 7:15 p.m. start. While Angel Franco got bumped up from the nine-hole to McClure's second position in the order and shortstop on the field, Piterson was inserted as the second baseman and nine-hole bat.

All three of the Blue Rocks' runs came courtesy of leadoff men reaching in first, second and fourth innings respectively. Whit Merrifield walked in the opening frame and came home on Brian Fletcher's two-out double against starter Danny Salazar. An inning later, Geulin Beltre got aboard on a leadoff walk and later scored on Piterson's sacrifice fly for a 2-0 advantage.

Piterson played the role of run producer once more in the fourth. Beltre began the frame with a double to right. With two outs, Piterson's broken-bat poke to center sent Beltre plateward to make it 3-0 in favor of the visitors. Salazar (0-1) lasted just 3.2 innings in his Advanced-A debut. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks.

Carolina got its first run on Jesus Aguilar's opposite-way laser over the short wall in right field. The first homer of the season for the man deemed to be the "Best Power Hitter" on the Indians' farm by Baseball America would be the only run surrendered by starter Sugar Ray Marimon. Marimon scattered six hits over 5.2 innings in his first Advanced-A outing. He walked just one and whiffed three.

Marimon got some help to secure the win. Sam Runion inherited two runners in the sixth, but struck out the lone man he faced when he got Anthony Gallas to chase strike three. Leondy Perez took over in the seventh and struck out the side. The former starter from his lower-level days was perfect in the eighth before receiving a stern test in the ninth.

Carlos Moncrief began the frame with an infield hit to second. A balk sent him to second and Tyler Cannon's double to the right-center gap pushed him home. Jeremie Tice pinch hit for Delvi Cid only to ground out to third base. Justin Toole concluded the game by grounding out to Franco at shortstop. Perez hurled three one-run innings to log the save. He whiffed four and walked none, but was called for a pair of balks.

The three-game series concludes on Wednesday night with first pitch at 7:15 p.m. The teams' Opening Day starters get their second starts of the year. Wilmington right-hander Tyler Sample (0-1, 5.79) takes on fellow righty and repeater Clayton Cook (1-0, 1.80). Broadcast coverage begins at 6:45 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.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

After entering the day with 41 strikeouts against six walks, the Blue Rocks' hitters worked a collective four free passes while whiffing just three times.

Leondy Perez notched his third career save and his first since he was in the Rookie Arizona League in 2008.

Jake Kuebler notched his second multi-hit showing on the young year. He owns a team-best .357 average (5-for-14).

Kevin David celebrated his 24th birthday with a day off as Travis Jones made his 2012 debut. As a result, every active Blue Rock has seen time in at least one game.

Leadoff man Whit Merrifield reached base three times. He doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch in going 1-for-2. The Blue Rocks' 2011 leader in stolen bases also took two bags on Tuesday night.

Sugar Ray Marimon recorded the first win by a Wilmington starter this season.

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Carolina League Stories from April 10, 2012


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