CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Potomac Rocks Blue Crew, 14-1

Published on July 2, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA - Entering Saturday night's series opener at Pfitzner Stadium, the Blue Rocks' biggest concern was rehabbing big league starter Chien-Ming Wang. While the runner-up for the 2006 A.L. Cy Young Award tossed four scoreless innings, the opposition's bats proved the greater difficulty. The Potomac Nationals (34-45, 5-5) posted 14 runs on 18 hits, both season-worst marks for the Wilmington (40-39, 4-6) pitching staff, in a 14-1 rout of the Blue Crew. The 13-run differential makes for the franchise's most lopsided loss since falling by the same final score on June 30, 2005 versus Lynchburg.

Wang threw 38 pitches (24 strikes) and allowed just one bunt single over his four frames. While he dominated, double plays killed Wilmington rally attempts in the second and third. John Whittleman walked to start the second before Ryan Stovall bounced into a beautifully-turned 6-4-3 double play. Gerard Hall reached on a perfectly-placed bunt single in the third. Alas, Whit Merrifield lined out to a diving Steven Souza at first, who then hit the bag for an inning-ending twin killing.

Wilmington's Elisaul Pimentel (4-6) allowed two runs in the third and three in the fifth before getting the hook. Francisco Soriano and Destin Hood homered against the ranked prospect in the fifth. He allowed five runs on nine hits, one walk and those two dingers over 4.2 innings.

Things got ugly late. Michael Mariot gave up two runs in the seventh on a wild pitch and Justin Bloxom's RBI groundout. The eighth then proved to be the worst inning for Blue Crew pitching all season. Glenn Gibson began the frame, but got the hook before its conclusion. The P-Nats scored seven runs, all charged to the lefty, including homers by Brian Peacock and Hood.

The four-game series continues on Sunday at 6:35 p.m. Wilmington right-hander Tim Melville (7-6, 4.23) faces fellow ranked prospect Danny Rosenbaum (4-3, 2.57). Broadcast coverage begins at 6:30 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.

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Carolina League Stories from July 2, 2011


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