Rally Comes Up Short
July 24, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Kinston, NC - Eric Hosmer doubled home a run with two outs in the ninth inning to put himself in scoring position as the tying run, but a gutsy comeback bid fell short in a 3-2 loss to the Kinston Indians on Friday night. Hosmer finished the game 2-for-4 with that double, an RBI and a run scored. He has hits in each of his first four games with the Blue Rocks. Wilmington (51-45, 13-14) never held a lead in posting its fourth loss in five meetings with the league's worst team.
Kinston starter Russell Young (3-5) had retired 18 of 19 entering the ninth inning, allowing just five hits, all singles. Johnny Giavotella began the frame with a bang, doubling the first pitch he saw down the left-field line. But Young struck out Mike Moustakas and induced a groundout to third from Clint Robinson to put the pressure on Hosmer. The youngest Blue Rock worked a full count and delivered his first extra-base hit in Advanced-A ball with a deep double to left-center.
K-Tribe manager Chris Tremie made the move to his bullpen, bringing on reliever Kyle Landis. One pitch later, Nick Van Stratten bounced out to short as Landis locked down his second save in three tries. Young fell just one out shy of the league's second nine-inning complete game of the season. It would have been Kinston's first since J.D. Martin went all nine to defeat Wilmington in Game Five of the 2004 Mills Cup Championship Series at Frawley Stadium.
Young, a groundball pitcher, worked 15 outs on the ground compared to five in the air. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and no walks over 8.2 innings. He struck out six men.
Wilmington starter Alex Caldera (3-8) struggled in the opening inning, walking in a run to put the Indians on top, 1-0. He minimized damage, stranding the bases loaded that inning and his teammates knotted the game with an unearned run in the second. With two outs and Hosmer at second, Paulo Orlando singled through the right-side hole. Right fielder Roman Pena clean missed his charge of the ordinary ball for an error, allowing Hosmer to score after he had stopped at third.
Pena collected a go-ahead RBI with a two-out double in the fourth and Lonnie Chisenhall belted his team-leading 16th home run for Kinston against Caldera to begin the fifth. Caldera went five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out three.
Relievers Zach Peterson and Kelvin Villa combined on three scoreless innings out of the bullpen thereafter to give Wilmington a shot.
The three-game weekend set continues on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Right-hander Mario Santiago (4-11, 4.30), who entered Friday tied for the most losses in minor league baseball, gets the nod for Wilmington. Kinston will counter with southpaw strikeout maven Eric Berger (7-7, 2.42). Berger owns the league's second-best ERA and ranks fourth in strikeouts.
Carolina League Stories from July 24, 2009
- Hudson Takes Loss As Wilmington Takes Series - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Rizzo, Lin, and Nava Combine for Eight Hits in Salem Victory - Salem Red Sox
- Nats Drop Opener in Battle of Division Leaders - Potomac Nationals
- Rally Comes Up Short - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Thompson Helps Pelicans Soar Over Dash - Winston-Salem Dash
- Young Pitches Gem, As Kinston Beats Wilmington 3-2 - Kinston Indians
- Cats and Keys Postponed - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Keys and Hillcats will Play a Double-Header Saturday - Frederick Keys
- Keys and Hillcats will Play a Double-Header Saturday - Frederick Keys
- Nationals Game Notes July 24th - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Game Notes July 24th - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Game Notes July 24th - Kinston Indians
- Duffy Dominates For Series Victory - Wilmington Blue Rocks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
