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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Long Evening Ends with Rocks and Keys Splitting Suspension and Regularly Scheduled Game

July 16, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


WILMINGTON, DE - The game between the Blue Rocks and Keys on July 9 entered a rain delay in the fourth inning and took almost a week to find a winner, but once action was resumed it was the Blue Crew who prevailed in a wild game by a 15-10 final on Wednesday evening. In Wednesday's regularly scheduled action the Keys took what was supposed to be a seven-inning affair 5-2 in 11. Sean Manaea was the Blue Rocks starter in both games, and the third ranked prospect in the Royals' system according to Baseball America took a no-decision twice on Wednesday.

Back when game one started on July 9, it did not look good for the Blue Crew. Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Santiago Nessy sacrifice fly, the Keys fought back and took a commanding 6-1 lead off of Manaea. With two outs and a runner on second in the fourth, the tarp was pulled and the game was suspended. When the two teams resumed play on Wednesday Frederick added one more with an RBI single from Chance Sisco off of reliever Yender Caramo to make it 7-1.

However, the Rocks would start their comeback after that, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. After the Keys got a tally back in the sixth, the Rocks completed their comeback in the seventh. A walk, a single, and a hit by pitch would load the bases. An Elier Hernandez single, an Alfredo Escalera walk, and a Jack Lopez sacrifice fly made it a one-run ballgame until Logan Moon stepped up and ripped a line drive off the glove of Anthony Caronia at third, plating two and giving Wilmington their first lead in the game since the first inning on July 9. The Rocks were not done, though, as Humberto Arteaga hit a grounder to short with the bases loaded and the ball was booted by Adrian Marin to make it a 10-8 game. Mauricio Ramos then walked on four pitches to bring in Moon. More insurance came in the form of a Nessy two-RBI double that made it 13-8. Wilmington was not done until Hernandez added a sacrifice fly to give the Rocks a 14-8 advantage heading into the eighth.

Wilmington added another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth but they probably would have rather done without it. With the bases loaded Ramos came up and was hit in the head with a pitch to bring in a run. Ramos immediately came out of the game. Andrew Edwards came in out of the bullpen and, despite giving up a couple of runs, Edwards held on as the Rocks won it 15-10.

The regularly scheduled game on Wednesday night was not short of excitement, either. After Manaea collected two quick outs in the top of third in the seven inning contest, he hit Jeff Kemp, who promptly moved to second on a Luis Villegas passed ball. A single by Sisco drove him home to make it 1-0.

The Rocks battled back to take the lead on a two-RBI triple by Cody Stubbs, but the Keys were the "comeback kids" in the nightcap. Ashton Goudeau, who came in for Manaea in the sixth, gave up consecutive singles to start the seventh before being replaced by Estarlin Cordero. A wild pitch moved the lead runner, Austin Wynns, to third and a deep fly ball off the bat of Caronia was good enough to tie the score at two and force extra-innings. The next score would not come until the 11th inning when Tad Gold, with two outs, hit a double down the left field line off of Robinson Yambati. Two men scored and that gave the Keys a 4-2 lead, which they would extend to 5-2 on an Marin single scoring Gold.

The Rocks and Keys may not get much sleep as they hit the field again on Thursday morning for game two of this four-game series from the Riverfront in Wilmington. The Blue Crew looks to Alec Mills to avenge the extra-innings loss on Wednesday. Mills, arguably one of the most solid hurlers in the CL this season, is currently 6-5 with a 2.39 ERA. Frederick counters with Mitch Horacek, one of Mills' fellow All-Stars, who is 5-9 with a 4.33 ERA. First pitch from Frawley Stadium is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Their 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one set a new season-high for the Blue Rocks whose previous high sat at eight runs in one frame, a total they set against the Lynchburg Hillcats back on July 3. The 10 runs was also the most runs scored in an inning by the Rocks since back on May 1, 1994 against the Durham Bulls when they also scored 10. The Durham Bulls are currently the Triple-A affiliate of the Tamp Bay Rays. The total came just one run away from tying a franchise record (11), though 15 runs is also a new single-game high this season for Wilmington. The Rocks have now scored 323 runs as a team this year, averaging just 3.6 runs per game. The big frame will also help the Rocks' numbers in the month of July. Coming into play on Wednesday the Blue Crew was batting just .205 during July, a total well under their season-average of .251.

Runs in an inning was not the only season-high the Wilmington offense set in the resumption of July 9's game on Wednesday. Their eight walks also set a new single-game high, eclipsing their seven walks they drew in three different games this season, most recently on May 11 against Lynchburg. While the Rocks have struggled to find free-passes this season (their 211 walks is last in the Carolina League), they have no trouble finding them against the Keys. Wilmington has drawn 70 of their 211 against Frederick in 2015. However, the Keys are known for doling out walks. Frederick pitchers have walked 378 batters this season, by far the most in the League.

With a win in relief of Sean Manaea in game one, Yender Caramo ended a streak of three consecutive losses in outings where he took a decision. That total is still the most losses in consecutive decisions for any Rocks hurler. Caramo's unfortunate streak took place during the first-half of the season when he took a loss in three straight appearances from June 9-19. All of those losses were on the road, the last being against the Keys at Nymeo Field. He had opportunities for more decisions, but was moved to the bullpen and made four consecutive appearances without a decision. Caramo is now 4-6 with a good 2.90 ERA, an earned-run average that is currently good for fifth in the Carolina League. While he has been solid in both roles, Caramo has thrived more in relief going 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA when coming out of the bullpen compared to 2-5 with a 3.14 ERA when he starts.

Dominique Taylor collected a double in the regularly scheduled game on Wednesday evening as it looks as though he may finally be finding it at the plate. Taylor, who has been one of just two Rocks outfielders (along with Logan Moon) who have been with the team all season, now has three doubles in his last two games. Monday's game against the Hillcats was the first contest this season where Taylor was able to collect multiple extra-base hits in the same game. Prior to his two doubles on Monday, he had gone nine straight contests without recording a hit, dropping his season-average to .199. That was the first time his average had been under the "Mendoza-Line" all season. Taylor is now back up to .204 with eight doubles, two triples, a homer, 17 RBIs, and seven steals. Despite struggling at the plate, Taylor has been consistent in the outfield as he is posting a .986 fielding percentage, committing just two error in over 616 innings played in the outfield for Wilmington this season.

THEY SAID IT:

Manager Brian Buchanan

"The first game (on Wednesday) we were down 7-1, to come back and win that game is huge. The second game we just let it get away from us. It was a long night of baseball."

"I was pleased that we were having good at bats (in the bottom of the 7th in the first game on Wednesday.) It was good to see them add on (the runs) and continue to add them. At the end (of the inning) we had a pretty good lead. It is good to win games like that, to be down six runs and then to come back and battle back to do what (the players) are supposed to do."

"(The early morning start on Thursday does not change the plans) we just have to come out and find a way to get through it. Both teams went through the (same long night.) This is where the mental toughness kicks in for minor league baseball."

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Carolina League Stories from July 16, 2015


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