CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Odorizzi Sends Salem to Slaughter

May 10, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Jake Odorizzi was just the tonic the struggling Wilmington Blue Rocks needed on Tuesday night. The 21-year-old right-hander fanned a career-best 13 and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning as Wilmington beat the Salem Red Sox, 3-1, at Frawley Stadium. The victory was just the team's second in its last eight games.

Odorizzi (3-0) set the tone from the start, striking out the side in the opening inning, and whiffing the first five batters of the game. His dominant fastball and pinpoint control helped him overpower the Sox, as he did not allow a runner until there were two outs in the third. His only blemishes through the first five frames came courtesy of two-out free passes issued in the third and fourth innings.

His only challenge of the evening came in his final frame on the mound. Odorizzi walked Zach Gentile and then allowed a slap single through the left-side hole to Jeremy Hazelbaker to begin the sixth. But the highly regarded prospect found just enough energy to fan the last three batters he faced and escape the jam unscathed.

His performance allowed some early production by his offense to standup. The Rocks plated two tallies in third inning and added an insurance score in the fifth. The Blue Crew's initial rally was jumpstarted by Whit Merrifield. The centerfielder opened the third with a double down the right-field line. He went to third when Carlo Testa laid down a sacrifice bunt. Rey Navarro followed with a walk, which put runners at the corners for John Whittleman.

The Rocks' first baseman came through with a roped triple into the left-center field alley that easily plated Navarro and Merrifield, and put the Rocks in front, 2-0. Whittleman was gunned down at the plate one hitter later on Tim Ferguson's fly ball to shallow center.

Wilmington got that score back in the fifth. Again it was Merrifield who keyed the rally with a single and a steal of second. He scampered home when Carlo Testa followed with an RBI knock to right.

The Blue Crew bullpen preserved the advantage with three innings of one-run ball. Kevin Chapman worked the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Salem starter Pete Ruiz (1-2) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs on six hits in five innings pitched. His solid start paled in comparison to Odorizzi however, who allowed just one runner into scoring position on his way to the victory.

The Rocks look to make it two wins in a row when they host Salem again on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. The piggyback combination of Noel Arguelles (1-1, 2.28) and Michael Mariot (3-0, 1.10) hit the hill for Wilmington, while Salem is slated to counter with righty Ryan Pressly (3-0, 2.59).

The night features Wilmington's tribute to pop superstar Michael Jackson. It is also a Wawa Wednesday at Frawley Stadium, which means fans can get $2 off their ticket purchase with a receipt from any Wawa store. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Jake Odorizzi's 13 strikeouts on Tuesday night were the most by a Wilmington pitcher since current Kansas City Royal Aaron Crow fanned 13 Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Frawley Stadium on September 1, 2010. The Rocks' franchise-record for punchouts in a single game is 17, set by Glendon Rusch on August 7, 1995 against the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Odorizzi has been downright un-hittable over his last four starts. The Illinois native has allowed just four earned runs in 25 innings pitched, whiffing 41 and walking just seven over that stretch.

Alex McClure entered Tuesday in the midst of a 1-for-14 slump, but the shortstop had a very productive night at the plate in the Wilmington win. McClure singled, reached base safely when he was hit by a pitch and laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt during a 1-for-2 evening.

Juan Graterol recorded his first hit since coming off the disabled list eight days earlier. Entering Tuesday, Graterol had been 0-for-12 since returning from his ankle injury, but the catcher grounded a single past Salem's shortstop in the second inning. He was robbed of another hit in his next at-bat, and then finished his night with a strikeout and a fly-ball double play.

Brendan Lafferty made his first appearance out of the bullpen since allowing three hits, but no runs against the Winston-Salem Dash on April 29. The left-hander turned in two scoreless frames of bridge work for the Blue Crew.

Kevin Chapman, Wilmington's new full-time closer with Monday's promotion of Kelvin Herrera, allowed his first home run of the season in the ninth inning. The dinger cost the Rocks their third shutout of the season. But Chapman settled down, retiring the next three hitters he faced on his way to his sixth save in seven tries on the season.

Wilmington had lost six of seven coming into Tuesday night's contest with Salem. During the Rocks' six losses in that time, the Blue Crew batted just .095 (4-for-42) with runners in scoring position. Wilmington had two hits in 10 tries with runners at second and/or third in the series-opener with the Sox.

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Carolina League Stories from May 10, 2011


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