CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Morimando Dominant, Hands Blue Crew Second Straight Loss

Published on June 3, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


WILMINGTON, DE-Named the Carolina League "Pitcher of the Week" on Monday afternoon, Shawn Morimando (4-5) showed why, as the left-hander tossed seven shutout innings to lead the Carolina Mudcats to a 5-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Monday night at Frawley Stadium. Hurt by a critical no-call in the second inning, and a wide strike zone, the home team posted only five hits in the contest, while manger Vance Wilson was ejected before the top of the ninth inning. With the loss, the Rocks drop to 28-29 in the first-half standings, and are now 4.5 games out of first place in the CL North with 13 games remaining in initial half of the season.

Carolina opened the scoring after the Blue Crew was bit by the error bug in the second inning. Jordan Smith singled off Blue Rocks starter John Lamb (4-5) to open the frame before moving to third on a line drive that was misplayed by second baseman Jack Lopez. Lane Adams then overran the ball in centerfield, resulting in a double error being called. Working with men at the corners, Lamb then tried to pick off Tony Wolters at first base, but on the throw to second the throw was dropped by Yowill Espinal, allowing the runner from third to score. In total, the Blue Rocks committed three errors in the inning.

In the home half, the Blue Rocks may have had their best scoring of the night. After Morimando retired leadoff batter Jared Schlehuber, Geulin Beltre doubled to left to give the team its second hit. Keeping a close eye on the speedster, Morimando sailed a pickoff throw into centerfield, and Beltre tried to move to third, but was obstructed trying to advance. Base umpire Doug Del Bello initially signaled obstruction as Beltre tried to move up on the play, but was called out when the Mudcats tagged Beltre who was hung up between second and third. Manager Vance Wilson argued the call to no avail, before a Tyler Chism flyout ended the inning.

Ahead 1-0, the Mudcats plated two more runs in the fourth. Smith once again set the table with a base hit off Lamb, and scored on a double by Bo Greenwell, who scored later in the frame on a single by Tyler Naquin, the Carolina League's leader in hits. Greenwell would also strike in fifth, slamming a two-run homer to right to stretch the Rocks deficit to 5-0.

Lamb exited the game after five frames and 86 pitches, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out season and walked one. His counterpart Morimando would go two innings deeper, leaving after seven innings and allowing only four hits all game. Taking his place, Grant Sides allowed a solo home run to Daniel Mateo in the bottom of the ninth, but retired the other six batters he faced.

Wilmington and Carolina play the second game of four on Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium. Right-hander Kyle Smith (4-1, 2.00) takes the hill for the Blue Crew and will be opposed by Mudcats right-hander Michael Peoples (0-1, 6.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35, and the broadcast can be heard on 89.7 WGLS-FM, or on Bluerocks.com. For ticket information, call 302-888-BLUE or visit Bluerocks.com.

Pebbles of Knowledge:

For the third time this season, Wilmington manager Vance Wilson was ejected from a game, and all three times he has been throw out by Brennan Miller. Frustrated with Miller's wide strike zone, Wilson was tossed right before the start of the ninth inning, after Parker Morin was called out on strikes. Miller also ejected the Blue Rocks manger on May 18 against Myrtle Beach for arguing a home run call, and on April 28 against Winston-Salem after a disputed hit-by-pitch ruling.

The Blue Rocks dropped their second game in as many days with a southpaw on the mound. Only able to muster two runs off Frederick lefty Tim Berry on Sunday, the Blue Rocks did not score a run off Carolina southpaw Shawn Morimando. It is the second straight time Morimando has defeated the Blue Rocks this year, while in two starts against the Blue Crew he has tossed 13 straight scoreless innings. With the loss, the team falls to 2-9 when facing a left-handed starting pitcher.

Jack Lopez made his first professional start at second base on Tuesday night, but things did not go as smoothly as he hoped. Charged with two errors, he is now up to 15 on the season, the most committed by any Blue Rocks player. However it was a tough night in general for the Wilmington defense. On the night, the Rocks committed four defensive miscues, the fifth time in 2013 that the club has made four or more errors in a game. Three of those came in the second inning, while it marked the end of a season-best six game errorless stretch for the Rocks.

Blue Rocks starter Aaron Brooks was all smiles before Monday's game, after receiving word of a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The move came after former Blue Rocks right-hander Yordano Ventura was promoted to from the Naturals to Triple-A Omaha earlier in the day. Brooks becomes the first member of the Blue Rocks to be promoted in 2013, and posted outstanding numbers in the month of May. Over five games he went 2-0 with a 2.34 ERA, working six innings or more in every start. Tyler Sample will take Brooks' spot in the rotation, while Spencer Patton takes Brooks' spot on the 25-man roster. Patton returns to the club after being transferred to Rookie-Idaho Falls last week.

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