CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Ninth-Inning Fireworks Salt An 8-3 Win

Published on May 5, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA - It was a team effort. Greg Billo pitched into the sixth inning for the first time. Brett Eibner slammed his team-leading fourth homer. Closer Nick Rogers continued his season-opening scoreless stretch en route to his third save. And Brian Fletcher tied his career-high with four hits as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (12-16) banged out a season-best 13 knocks as a squad in an 8-3 defeat of the Potomac Nationals (11-15) at Pfitzner Stadium on Saturday night.

Rogers entered the game to start the eighth with a one-run lead on the board. After retiring the first two he faced, the Rocks' end-game hurler allowed a single to Adrian Sanchez. A Kenny Swab passed ball gave Sanchez second while Rogers issued a wild pitch that sent him to third. With a full count and Friday night's walk-off hero Ricky Hague at the plate, Rogers fired a fastball past the shortstop's elevated swing for strike three to maintain the slim lead.

The next inning, Wilmington posted six straight productive plate appearances, including four straight hits against reliever Shane McCatty. Eibner punctuated the parade with an impressive shot to the left of true center field for a two-out three-run homer. Rogers followed with a perfect ninth.

It did not begin in quite that smooth a manner. Billo allowed a two-out, two-run single to Zach Walters in the opening inning and the Rocks trailed, 2-0.

Wilmington responded immediately, putting three on the board the very next frame with RBIs for Geulin Beltre, Alex McClure and Whit Merrifield. An error by Hague helped the Rocks double their advantage to 4-2 in the third, while Potomac crept back to swing range on Michael Taylor's RBI double in the fourth. There would be no further run scoring until the ninth.

It made a winner out of Billo (2-3), who threw from a more over-the-top angle for the first time this season. He allowed three runs on just four hits and two walks during his 5.2 frames. It also handed Potomac starter Kyle Winters (1-4) a loss despite a career-best 10 strikeouts. He gave up four runs (three earned) over six innings.

The three-game set concludes at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Wilmington right-hander Yordano Ventura (0-2, 4.43) gets the ball against struggling southpaw Matt Grace (1-3, 7.36). Broadcast coverage begins at 12:35 p.m. as studio host Rob Cunningham brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

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Carolina League Stories from May 5, 2012


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