CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Moustakas' Mash Highlights 5-4 Win

Published on July 27, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - The top three prospects in the Kansas City Royals organization according to Baseball America all contributed as the Blue Rocks (53-45, 15-14) won a rubber match against the Kinston Indians on Sunday afternoon, 5-4. Top prospect Mike Moustakas posted two hits, his team-leading 11th home run and drove in four. Second-ranked chip Eric Hosmer drove in the other score with a base hit. The 19-year-old has hits in all of his six games as a Blue Rock. And the organization's third-best up-and-comer, top pitching prospect Michael Montgomery, hurled a no-no through four in a solid Advanced-A debut.

Moustakas made the most of the first two walks issued by Kinston's Alexander Perez (1-2) when he blasted a towering three-run homer to right on an 0-2 pitch for a 3-0 lead. Wilmington would not trail all game.

Montgomery, who received just 2.1 runs/game in support with Low-A Burlington, took that lead and ran with it. Entering the fifth, the 20-year-old had allowed just two baserunners on a walk and an error before Ronald Rivas singled to right-center. A wild pitch and a couple of groundouts combined to get Rivas home and spoil a shutout bid. But with dark clouds overhead and an intense storm flashing lightning in the distance, Montgomery stood one out away from qualifying for a win.

He jumped ahead of the light-hitting Eric Perlozzo 0-2 before losing him to a walk. It marked the first of three straight free passes that loaded the bases and prompted a move to the bullpen. Ray Liotta (4-2) entered and induced a foul pop out to the catcher off the bat of Kinston's best player, Lonnie Chisenhall, keeping the run damage to one run on the newest Blue Rock. Montgomery gave up just the one run on one hit over 4.2 innings. He walked four, struck out three and had two wild pitches. While rain did come, it did not last long nor fall hard and the game never endured a delay.

Wilmington chased Perez in the fifth when Moustakas drove in his fourth run with a single and Hosmer plated Moustakas with a poke to left-center. Perez, who had allowed just three runs in his first four CL starts, gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks over 4.1 innings.

The K-Tribe made things interesting with a three-run seventh. A strikeout of Tim Fedroff combined with a Ryan Eigsti passed ball for the first score and Chisenhall singled in two more with a two-out blow that ended Liotta's outing. Zach Peterson entered and stranded the inherited man en route to his first save as a Blue Rock. He retired seven of the eight batters he faced, allowing just a two-out walk in lowering his ERA to 0.90.

Liotta picked up the win in relief with two innings of work. The southpaw gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts. The Chisenhall hit ended his streak at 23.0 straight innings without allowing an earned run.

The Blue Rocks return home to begin a seven-game homestand and three-game series with the first-half champion Lynchburg Hillcats on Monday night. Right-hander Eduardo Paulino (3-6, 4.57) will face sinkerball right-hander Matt McSwain (8-5, 3.60) at 7:05 p.m. The first 1,250 fans will receive a logo baseball courtesy of Delmarva Power Emergency Services Partnership Program. Come have a cheeseburger in paradise with the Blue Rocks as they celebrate Jimmy Buffett Night. The Rocks will continue the tradition of Monday Baseball Bingo, with playing cards and instructions available to fans and prizes awarded to early winners.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Over his last two games, Mike Moustakas has four hits, three for extra-bases, and six RBIs. He is 4-for-7 with all of that production coming on the heels of a 1-for-43 skid. The second-overall draft choice from 2007 ranks second in the Kansas City system and tied for fourth in the Carolina League in RBIs.

Eric Hosmer enjoyed a 1-for-3 day at the plate with an RBI and a walk. In six games with the Blue Rocks, he is hitting an impressive .304 (7-for-23).

The Blue Rocks won two of three at Kinston for a 7-3 showing at Grainger Stadium on the season, their third straight winning year at the historic ballpark.

Wilmington improved to 30-22 in road games this season with their eighth win in 11 games away from Frawley Stadium. The Rocks are hitting .269 on the road, averaging 4.8 runs/game compared to a .235 clip at home and 3.2 runs/game.

Brian Rupp's squad has won seven of its last eight rubber matches and nine of its last 11.

Clint Robinson posted his second three-hit game of the road trip, going 3-for-5. He served as the Blue Rocks designated hitter on the trip and hit .346 (9-for-26).

Anthony Seratelli continues to reach base at a very efficient rate. The switch-hitting shortstop went 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and a stolen base. He has hits in 18 of his last 21 games, hitting .313 (20-for-64) with 12 walks, two bruises and a .436 OBP.

All three of the games on the series were decided by a single run. The Blue Rocks improved to 18-16 in such games with Sunday's triumph.

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Carolina League Stories from July 27, 2009


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