CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Prades & Eigtsi Go Yard, Melville Tosses Six Scoreless Innings

Published on June 10, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Winston-Salem, NC - Tim Melville (6-6) tossed six scoreless innings and home runs by Yem Prades and Ryan Eigsti combined to generate three runs as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (31-28) bested the Winston-Salem Dash (28-33) at BB&T Ballpark on Friday night, 4-1. The Blue Crew began its final road trip of the first half with just its third win since May 25.

Winston-Salem starter Cameron Bayne (5-4) danced through danger in the first inning. He loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batter, but induced a fielder's choice force at the plate from John Whittleman and a weak groundout to second from Prades. In the second, first baseman Joey Lewis' second career triple, a well-hit ball into the right-field corner, set the stage for Eigsti's line drive over shortstop and a 1-0 Wilmington lead.

Rey Navarro began the third with a double to right, but stood at third base with two outs when Prades stood in. The Cuban defector came through with his first RBIs as a professional when he homered to left-center field to make it a 3-0 game.

During that time, Melville allowed just one hit and whiffed two through the opening two innings. But the prospect needed a bit of a gift to emerge from the third unscathed. With men at first and second, Jared Mitchell grounded a ball to second. While Navarro's shovel to Alex McClure covering at second was in time, the shortstop's relay to first clearly came after Mitchell reached. Base umpire Aaron Roberts did not see it that way. He gave a delayed, emphatic out signal to end the inning, prompting an argument from manager Julio Vinas, who was ejected.

Eigsti began the fourth with a first-pitch-swinging homer to right-center, his second of the year, and the Rocks never put another man on base. Bayne, who lasted seven innings, and his successor, Ryan Kussmall, combined to retired the last 18 men in a row including eight whiffs.

Melville got some defensive help in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, Eigsti picked off Ian Gac at third base. While Nick Cioli followed with a walk, Melville got Austin Yount to ground out to first to leave the bases loaded. He faced the minimum in the fifth and sixth en route to his team-leading sixth win.

Melville struck out four, walked three and allowed four hits over his six-inning performance. It marked the first time in six starts Melville lasted that long since a quality start, but a loss, at Frederick on May 7.

Michael Mariot worked around a leadoff baserunner in the seventh. Mike Blanke reached on a McClure miscue before three straight outs followed. Henry Barrera struck out the side, but allowed a run thanks to a strikeout/wild pitch combination in the eighth. He whiffed Blanke to begin a 1-2-3 ninth that iced the victory.

The three-game set continues at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Wilmington right-hander Tyler Sample (3-4, 3.73) gets the ball against southpaw Joe Serafin (0-4, 5.13). 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 June 10, 2011


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