CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Morel's walk-off homer beats Rocks in extras

April 24, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Winston-Salem, NC - It just wasn't their night. The Blue Rocks rallied, using a couple of Jamar Walton home runs to tie the game late and force extra innings, but Winston-Salem third baseman Brent Morel led off the bottom of the 10th with his first homer of the season and the Rocks lost a walk-off in extras, 6-5, tying the four-game series at a game apiece. Mike Moustakas also homered in the game, but the Blue Crew went 1-for-7 with men in scoring position, including leaving men at second and third in the top of the 10th.

Kelvin Villa (0-1) took a tough loss out of the bullpen. He went 3.2 innings and allowed only the walk-off run on three total hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Hector Santiago (1-0) earned the win after facing just one batter. Wilmington DH David Lough worked a full count with men at second and third in the top of the 10th, but Santiago, who was brought in for the lefty-lefty match-up, struck him out swinging to strand the runners.

The Blue Rocks enjoyed only one very brief lead on the night. Winston-Salem tagged starter Alex Caldera first, notching two runs in the home third as the first two men to reach base on either side both scored. Seth Loman doubled to right-center and scored when Adam Ricks singled him home on the very next pitch. Later in the inning, with two outs and two on, Jimmy Gallagher hit a grounder to shortstop. Jeff Bianchi's throw appeared to arrive in time at first base, but safe was the call. It allowed Ricks to score and extended Gallagher's league-best hitting streak to 15. It was his only hit on the night.

In the fourth, Derrick Robinson got his first hit in 20 at-bats with a first-pitch bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Johnny Giavotella pushed him to second and Robinson stole third, his league-leading ninth stolen sack on the year. With Moustakas at the plate, a passed ball coincided with Robinson racing home to get Wilmington on the board. Shortly thereafter, Moustakas tied it up by connecting on a 3-0 pitch for his third home run. A groundout later, Lough worked a four-pitch walk, stole second, and scored on a Clint Robinson single for a 3-2 lead.

Winston-Salem responded immediately, putting up its own three-spot in the bottom half of the inning. Three straight singles off Caldera began the frame, and an errant throw by Clint Robinson to pitcher covering Caldera at first on the third knock allowed a run to score. Ricks drove in a go-ahead run with a sac fly to left and Jordan Danks made it a two-run cushion with a run-scoring double to center.

Meanwhile, the Blue Rocks used Walton's first two home runs of the season to draw the contest even. He led off the seventh with a shot to left-center against Wander Perez. Danks leapt and just missed the ball as it barely cleared the eight-foot fence. Still, starter Johnnie Lowe was in line for the win after a quality start. He went six innings and allowed three runs on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

That would change when Walton took Caldera off the hook in the ninth. With one out and the bases empty, Walton bashed the first pitch from Miguel Socolovich to nearly the exact same spot. Alas, it would be the last run the Blue Rocks would score on the night.

Caldera took a no-decision after 5.1 innings of work. He was tagged with five runs on seven hits. He walked one, struck out five and hit a batter.

Rain that forced postponements, doubleheaders and suspended play in the Salem series affects the starting pitcher for the Saturday game. Prospect southpaw Danny Duffy will not work on short rest and will start the Sunday finale instead. In his place, right-hander Jason Godin (0-0, 1.04) will make his first start of the season against right-hander Matt Long (0-2, 6.75) at 7:00 p.m. Godin was part of Wilmington's rotation in portions of both 2007 and 2008. His last start for Wilmington ended when a comeback liner by Frederick's Chris Vinyard struck Godin in the face and broke his jaw in three places at Frawley Stadium on June 17, 2008. He has been one of the Blue Rocks best in the bullpen through four outings in 2009.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Blue Rocks lost just two games in walk-off fashion last year, while winning eight. They are 1-1 in walk-off games in 2009.

It marks the team's first extra-innings loss of the season in two such opportunities.

The Wilmington lineup featured five straight left-handed hitters from the five-hole on. In total, seven of the nine men batted left-side against right-handed pitching, including switch-hitter Derrick Robinson.

The game was played in front of just 407 quiet fans.

Potomac's 4-0 shutout of Frederick drew the defending champs into a second-place tie with the Blue Rocks.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics



Carolina League Stories from April 24, 2009


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