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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Odorizzi Falls In His Final Outing With Wilmington

June 30, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Jake Odorizzi turned in his second-worst outing as a Wilmington Blue Rock. Turns out, it was his last in a Blue Crew uniform. The right-hander allowed five runs (four earned) in six innings pitched as the Wilmington Blue Rocks fell to the Salem Red Sox on Thursday night, 5-3. Odorizzi learned after the game he had been promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

The Carolina League All-Star's Thursday night did not begin as sweet. Bryce Brentz's second home run in as many days jumped Salem to a 3-0 lead in the opening inning. Odorizzi (5-4) had yielded consecutive singles to Kolbrin Vitek and Jorge Padron. He then fell behind Brentz, 2-1, and watched the right fielder send one well beyond the deep-right-center fence.

A Wilmington offense that had been shutout three times over its previous five games, wasted little time authoring a response. The Rocks plated a pair in their first trip to the plate. Salem starter Chris Hernandez retired the first two batters he faced with ease. But Nick Van Stratten triggered a two-out rally with his liner to left-center. Wilmington then got aggressive, playing hit and run with John Whittleman, who bounced a single into left. Yem Prades followed with an RBI knock to left that scored Van Stratten and made it, 3-1.

The Rocks caught a bigger break when the throw in was a poor one, allowing Whittleman to reach third and Prades to scamper into scoring position. That meant Tim Ferguson's infield single deep in the hole at short scored Whittleman and cut Salem's lead to a single run. Unfortunately the play also ended Wilmington's threat as Prades was gunned down attempting to score from second.

Salem stole whatever was left of the Rocks' momentum when it answered with a score in the top of the second. Alex Valdez opened the frame with a single, he then avoided getting cut down on the bases when Gerard Hall booted a dead double play grounder at short. Valdez came home two batters later on Shannon Wilkerson's run-scoring single to center.

The Sox restored the lead to three runs in the sixth. Brentz opened the frame with a double, went to third on Dan Butler's single to left and then scored when Odorizzi induced a 6-4-3 twin-killing off the bat of Miles Head.

The Rocks had their best chance to get even in the home-sixth. Wilmington got a leadoff single from Whittleman, but the third baseman was still stuck at first two outs later. Joey Lewis came through however, launching a double into the right-field corner, which cut the lead to, 5-3. Ryan Eigsti legged out an infield single putting runners at first and third, with the go-ahead run at the plate.

The situation warranted a call to the Salem bullpen, as Hernandez (6-5) gave way to reliever Kendal Voles. The right-hander got Hall to fly out to left to end the inning. Voles fanned the final five batters he faced in his 2.1-frame outing. William Latimer worked a perfect ninth to nail down his third save of the season

The Rocks conclude their series with the Sox on Friday at 7:05 p.m. The piggyback combination of Justin Marks (3-5, 4.97) and Tyler Sample (5-5, 4.46) hit the hill for Wilmington against Salem right-hander Ryan Pressly (4-7, 4.54) 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:

The win gave Salem its first three-game winning streak since May 5-7 against Myrtle Beach. The Sox had dropped 36 of their previous 48 games entering this three-game set at Frawley Stadium. The Red Sox look to complete a three-game sweep in Wilmington on Friday night. It would be Salem's first series-sweep since taking three from Lynchburg April 18-20.

Jake Odorizzi leaves the Rocks with losses in four consecutive starts. The right-hander heads to Double-A Northwest Arkansas with a 5-4 mark and a 2.87 ERA. Odorizzi entered the night ranked top-five in the Carolina League in strikeouts, earned run average and batting average against. The 34th ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com, becomes the third Rock to get promoted in the last two days. He joins teammates Nick Francis and Rey Navarro in Double-A.

Alex McClure left the game in the top of the ninth inning in Frederick on Tuesday 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 without finishing the at-bat. He was placed on the disabled list on Thursday with multiple broken bones in that hand. McClure is hitting .196 with one homer and 13 RBIs in 67 games this season.

McClure was replaced on the Rocks' active roster by Ryan Stovall from Low-A Kane County (MWL). A 19th-round pick in 2009 out of Thomas University, Stovall first wore the Wilmington uniform during the 2009 playoffs. After Jamar Walton got hurt, Stovall played in two games against the Hillcats in the N.D.C.S. as an outfielder, going 0-for-7 with an RBI and two strikeouts. He saw time with last year's club as well. In three home games from July 11-12 against Myrtle Beach, Stovall went 3-for-10 with a triple. The former NAIA All-American departs Kane County ranked among the Midwest League's best bats in average (T-5th, .307) and slugging (2nd, .546). He led the team in doubles (15), homers (8) and RBIs (31) in posting slashes of .307/.356/.546/.902.

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