CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Lost Opportunities Cost Blue Rocks

Published on June 30, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Frederick, MD - Down 7-5 in the ninth inning but bidding for their third late offensive spurt and win in as many days against the Frederick Keys, the Blue Rocks (41-34, 3-3) went to their latest addition. Former Myrtle Beach Pelican Chase Fontaine came off the bench to make his Blue Rocks debut as a pinch hitter. The result, a line-drive smash... caught by reliever Ryan Rodriguez. The lefty doubled up Jamar Walton at second and the Rocks suffered their first loss on the four-game set. Mike Moustakas posted a 3-for-3 night with a double, an RBI and a walk. He was one of five Blue Crewers to notch a multi-hit effort. Alas, the team left 12 men on base, nine in scoring position.

Starter Alex Caldera (1-7) lost a pair of leads and his fifth straight start. Moustakas collected his team-leading 44th RBI with a third-inning single for a 1-0 advantage. Caldera faced the minimum through the first three innings before the Keys posted a three-run fourth. Robbie Widlansky knocked in a run with a groundout and Tyler Henson broke a brief deadlock with a two-run homer to left-center field.

The next inning, all nine Blue Rocks batted as they mounted their own three-run surge to take the lead back. Anthony Seratelli plated the first score with a fielder's choice, Paulo Orlando recorded a sacrifice fly and Ryan Eigsti singled in the go-ahead score for a 4-3 margin. Playing in his first game as a Blue Rock, Antonio Jimenez walked on four pitches thereafter to load the bases with two outs and chase starter Pedro Beato. Reliever Jake Stevens (3-4) entered and retired Adrian Ortiz on one pitch, inducing a pop out to short to end the threat.

Caldera surrendered another pair of runs in the fifth to give Frederick the lead for good. The nesting doll-like inning began with a Wally Crancer triple, Pedro Florimon, Jr. RBI double and Billy Killian single. After Matt Angle bounced into a double play, Ryan Adams collected an infield single that knocked in Florimon, Jr. for a 5-4 Frederick lead.

Single scores in the seventh and eighth against southpaw Kelvin Villa stretched the Keys' lead to 7-4 entering the ninth. Orlando reached on error against Brian Parker, took second on a wild pitch and scored when Walton threaded a double down the right-field line. After Eigsti struck out, Wilmington manager Brian Rupp brought Fontaine off the bench to pinch hit for Jimenez. With the lefty bat set to swing, Frederick also made a move as Richie Hebner called for his own southpaw in the recently demoted Rodriguez. After working a 2-2 count, Fontaine smoked a ball up the middle that the veteran snared on the fly to ignite the game-ending double play and record his first save.

The four-game series concludes on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. All-Star southpaw Danny Duffy (6-2, 3.43) will toss for Wilmington against right-hander Sean Gleason (0-2, 4.56).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Blue Crew posted the league's second-best record in June at 16-10. It overcame the loop's third-worst batting average (.249) by posting the top team ERA (2.92). Rowdy Hardy notched the league's second-best June ERA, going 2-0 with a 0.67 ERA in five games (four starts).

In dropping each of his last five starts, all in June, Alex Caldera posted a 7.77 ERA, the league's worst on the month. He failed to strike a man out Tuesday night for the second time on his three-year pro career (52 games). His only other outing without a whiff came on July 16, 2007 while with the Rookie Burlington Royals in the Appalachian League.

Adrian Ortiz, who drove in a career-high five RBIs in the Frederick series opener on Monday, posted the fourth-worst batting average among league regulars during June (.197).

Johnny Giavotella went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. The second baseman has hit safely in eight straight games, connecting at a .379 (11-for-29) clip over that span. His 45 walks on the season place him second in the league.

Derrick Robinson notched his 20th multi-hit game of the season, best among the current Blue Rocks. He went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

The red-hot Paulo Orlando assembled another two-hit night, his seventh in 10 games played. The Brazil native went 2-for-4 with a pair of infield hits, a sac fly, stolen base and run scored. Over his last 10 games, Orlando has hit .395 (15-for-38), raising his average by 37 points to a season-best .239.

Wilmington finished the game 5-for-18 with men in scoring position.

The Blue Rocks turned another two double plays. They lead the league with 78 turned.

Frederick required the services of five pitchers to secure its first win on the series.

Antonio Jimenez hit into a very odd double play in the second inning. With Ryan Eigsti at first, Orlando at third and one out, Jimenez hit a sinking-fast looper toward second. Ryan Adams trapped the ball but Jimenez believed he snared it on the fly. After Eigsti was put away, the batter had time to reach first safely. But Jimenez did not run to first, a toss went there to force him out and Orlando's crossing of home plate did not count as the continuous action double play ended the inning.

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