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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Melville Helps Wilmington Avoid Sweep

June 28, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Frederick, MD - The Wilmington Blue Rocks overcame a leadoff home run by the Frederick Keys, and rode a strong start by Tim Melville along with a clutch eighth-inning dinger by Nick Francis to a 5-2 victory on Tuesday night at Harry Grove Stadium. The win saved Wilmington the indignity of being swept in the three-game set.

The Keys drew first blood with an early, rude greeting for Melville (7-6). Steve Brumbry took his second pitch of the night out of the park in right-center field for a solo homer. Frederick would then load the bases with two down in the first, before Melville escaped the jam by getting Adam Donachie to ground out to third.

Melville cruised through the rest of his outing, finishing one out shy of his longest start of the season. In 6.2 innings pitched the right-hander allowed just one run on seven hits. He fanned six and walked only one.

Meanwhile, the Rocks' offense responded with a score of their own in the top of the third. Joey Lewis took advantage of a misread by Frederick centerfielder Miguel Abreu and turned it into a triple. The Wilmington infielder lofted a well-hit fly ball that carried toward the right-center gap. Abreu initially broke in on the ball and then retreated back. By that point it was too late as the ball glanced off the edge of Abreu's glove and Lewis was in scoring position. He came home when Whit Merrifield followed with a sacrifice fly to right.

Wilmington took the lead three innings later. Yem Prades opened the sixth by ripping a line-drive double into the left-field corner. Rey Navarrothen laid down a bunt which surprised Frederick pitcher Nathan Moreau (7-6). The left-hander stumbled after the ball and uncorked a wild throw to first. The bunt-single coupled with the throwing-error allowed Prades to circle around to score and gave Wilmington a 2-1 advantage.

The Rocks added critical insurance against the Frederick bullpen in the eighth. After Kenny Moreland blew them away, 1-2-3 in the seventh, Wilmington got its revenge with a one-out rally. Prades got it started with a double and Navarro followed with a four-pitch walk. That set the stage for Francis, who sent a no-doubt-about-it homer sailing deep over the left-field fence, which put the Blue Crew in front, 5-1.

Michael Mariot allowed a meaningless run in the eighth, but also fanned a pair and stranded an inherited runner in scoring position during his 2.1 frames of work. The effort was good for his fourth save of the season.

The Rocks return home on Wednesday for a three-game set with the Salem Red Sox. Wilmington southpaw Noel Arguelles (2-2, 2.28) faces righty Pete Ruiz (3-3, 5.46) in the series-opener at Frawley Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. as studio host Adam Dobrowolski brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Steve Bumbry's home run to start Tuesday was the first leadoff homer against the Rocks since Winston-Salem's Brandon Short took Ivor Hodgson deep to open the game on June 20, 2010. The Rocks had not allowed a leadoff dinger on the road since May 7, 2010. That one, coincidentally enough, also came in Frederick and against Hodgson.

After losing in each of their first six tries at Harry Grove Stadium in 2011, the Rocks finally broke through with a win on Tuesday. It was the team's first victory in Frederick since August 19, 2010. Hodgson got the win in relief that night.

Tim Melville's fine outing earned him his seventh victory of the season. That total leads the team and ranks the right-hander second in the Carolina League. Melville also issued only one free pass in 6.2 frames. In his last 17 innings pitched, the 14th-ranked prospect in the Kansas City system according to Baseball America, has only two walks on his ledger.

The victory denied Frederick manager Orlando Gomez the 900th win of his 18-year managerial career.

Yem Prades has hit safely in 13 of his last 17 games. The outfielder went 2-for-4 on Tuesday with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Prades is hitting at a .344 clip (22-for-64) during this 17-game run.

Alex McClure left the game in the top of the ninth inning when a pitch appeared to hit his right hand above his pinky during an attempted bunt. The umpire ruled it a foul ball though, and McClure left the game and was replaced by Deivy Batista.

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