CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

McFarland Masters Blue Rocks

Published on May 31, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - Jamie Romak's ninth-inning infield single made sure the Wilmington Blue Rocks (22-29) avoided a fifth shutout setback, scoring Patrick Norris from third base, but that offered little consolation in a 4-1 loss to the Kinston Indians (28-23) Monday night. Romak extended his hitting streak to a season-best eight games with two hits in total. However, the Blue Crew lost for the fifth time in six games, including three straight. Wilmington owns a 1-3 record through four games on this six-game road trip.

Kinston starter T.J. McFarland (6-1) fell one out shy of a nine-inning complete game. The fourth-round pick from 2007 had thrown just 68 pitches entering the ninth inning, leading 4-0. On one pitch, Adrian Ortiz flied out to left. Norris doubled the subsequent offering into left-center. Eric Hosmer grounded out to second on the third pitch he saw to push Norris over to third base. Romak staved off shutout misery by working a full count in a seven-pitch at-bat before nubbing a bouncer down the third-base line for an RBI. Jason Taylor then sharply singled a 1-0 pitch to right and Kinston manager Aaron Holbert lifted McFarland.

Closer Cory Burns secured his fifth save as a K-Triber and 17th in as many tries overall this season, inducing a force at second off the bat of Salvador Perez.

Kinston hit a pair of home runs against starter Alex Caldera (4-3). Jason Kipnis hit a two-out solo shot in the opening inning, his fourth of the season. Lucas Montero and Adam Davis each singled in scores in the second, while Chris Kersten's first Carolina League home run, a two-out solo shot in the fourth, accounted for the scoring. Caldera allowed the four runs on eight total hits and two walks against five strikeouts over five frames. Manauris Baez and Brendan Lafferty combined to allow just a pair of hits over three scoreless innings thereafter.

Prior to the ninth inning, only one Blue Rock got beyond first base. Ortiz began the game with a comeback single that hit the foot of McFarland. Norris sacrifice Ortiz to second before McFarland retired 10 straight and faced just two over the minimum from the close of the first until the ninth, inducing a pair of double plays.

The middle game of three on the series is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday. Lefty John Lamb (1-1, 1.50) will make his third Blue Rocks start. Kinston counters with right-hander Joey Mahalic (1-0, 4.44).

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Jamie Romak went 2-for-4 on the game in stretching his season-best hitting streak to eight games. Over his string of success, the slugger has hit .462 (14-for-30) clip to raise his overall batting average by 44 points (.196-.240). He has also driven in nine tallies during his run, tying him with Eric Hosmer for the team lead on the year with 30.

Hosmer went 0-for-4 with a line out to left and three outs on the ground, including a double play. Over his last five games, the No. 3 overall pick from the 2007 draft has hit .100 (2-for-20) and his overall contact clip has dipped 30 points (.379-.349).

Kinston stole four bases in six tries against catcher Salvador Perez, who entered the night leading the league by gunning down 49% of would-be base stealers.

One of those stolen bases, a theft of second by Adam Davis in the fourth inning, also saw a Perez throw elude the glove of shortstop Rey Navarro. Davis promptly advanced to third as the ball sailed into the outfield for a throwing error on Perez.

That miscue extended the team's error streak to 12 games. During that time, Wilmington has gone from the league's best fielding-percentage defense to a three-way tie at No. 5. Through four games on this road trip, the team has made nine miscues.

Kinston's victory was its 17th home win of the season, the highest such total in the Carolina League. McFarland's sixth win tied him for tops in the loop as well.

McFarland recorded six one-pitch outs in challenging to post the league's third complete game and second of the nine-inning variety. Each of the prior two complete games came against the Blue Rocks. Myrtle Beach's Matt Crim tossed an eight-inning CG in a loss at Wilmington on May 21. Frederick's Rick Zagone beat the Blue Crew 4-1 on Wednesday and went the full nine in the process.

Monday marked the second time in three games the Blue Rocks avoided a shutout with a ninth-inning score, turning the same trick against Myrtle Beach on Saturday night.

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Carolina League Stories from May 31, 2010


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