CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rally Rocks Strike Again

June 29, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Frederick, MD - After blowing a 3-0 advantage, another gutsy team effort late championed the Blue Rocks to a win in Frederick as they beat the Keys in 10 innings, 7-3. Eight of the nine in the order batted during that decisive frame and four different men drove in single scores. The Rocks (41-33, 3-2) have won three of their last four and own a share of first place in the Northern Division to begin the second half. The win comes on the heels of the team's biggest come-from-behind triumph of the year the night before in the series opener.

Tied 3-3 in the 10th, Derrick Robinson began the rally with a base hit to the right-side hole. Second baseman Ryan Adams ranged hard to his left and made the glove while standing on the outfield grass, then forced a bouncing throw that errantly skipped past first and allowed Robinson to take second. Johnny Giavotella, a high school teammate of Adams, followed with his team-leading sixth triple of the year for a 4-3 lead.

Mike Moustakas drew an intentional walk before Anthony Seratelli drove in Giavotella with a sacrifice fly to center. The avalanche of momentum spilled on. Moustakas stole second and scored on a Paulo Orlando single to left. A late throw to the plate allowed Orlando to take second. Jamar Walton capped off the spurt with a ground-rule double to left-center, plating Orlando and chasing reliever Joe Esposito (0-2) who suffered his second loss in as many outings since joining the team from Low-A Delmarva.

Juan Abreu (3-1) retired all six men that he faced and struck out one over the last two innings to secure the win.

Wilmington starter Rowdy Hardy left in line for the victory. Over six innings, he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, two walks and one hit batter. He struck out three. A trio of single scores had given him a 3-0 lead. In the second, Orlando led off with a double and scored on a Ryan Eigsti single. The next inning, Adrian Ortiz doubled on the frame's first pitch and scored on a right-side groundout from Giavotella. Josh Johnson doubled with one down in the fifth and scored on a Robinson single off the glove of a leaping Tyler Henson at third base.

But Frederick assembled its own picket fence with single scores in the fifth, sixth and seventh to knot the game up. Robinson's third error of the year, a bobble while fielding a David Cash hit in the fifth, allowed Pedro Florimon, Jr. to score an unearned run. Caleb Joseph earned a score with a bashed solo homer to left the next inning. Reliever Chris Chavez walked Florimon, Jr. with one out in the seventh and Cash tripled him home on a ball that took an odd hop past Robinson in center.

Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Chavez turned a pivotal double play to mute some Frederick noise. After consecutive lead-off hits, Henson bunted the next pitch in the air. Chavez descended the hill home-plate side to make a leaning catch on the fly, spun and doubled up Brandon Waring at second base.

A number of roster moves have shaken up the squad. Utility man Antonio Jimenez joined the team from Low-A Burlington on Monday and was in uniform at the park. On Tuesday, former Myrtle Beach Pelican Chase Fontaine will make the same leap from Iowa to the Carolina League. Josh Johnson returns to Double-A Northwest Arkansas after a brief return to the Blue Rocks. Former Wilmington shortstop Chris McConnell suffered a broken finger that placed him on the disabled list, putting in motion the majority of these moves.

In game three of the four-game set on Tuesday, right-hander Alex Caldera (1-6, 6.42) will oppose righty Pedro Beato (4-5, 4.62) at 7:00 p.m.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Frederick fell to 9-21 in divisional play this season, the worst such mark in the league.

Johnny Giavotella went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. The second baseman has hit safely in seven straight games, connecting at a .360 (9-for-25) clip over that span. His 44 walks on the season place him second in the league.

Josh Johnson went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in the final game of his second stint in a Blue Rocks uniform. In seven games with Wilmington, he hit .333 (7-for-21) and recorded a .400 on-base percentage.

Frederick went 0-for-10 as a team with runners in scoring position.

Derrick Robinson notched his league-leading 36th stolen base of the year in the fifth inning. The swipe gives him 99 on his Blue Rocks career, the most in franchise history.

The Blue Rocks improved to 4-4 in extra-inning games. The team has won three straight games with free baseball.

Rowdy Hardy allowed his first earned run as a starting pitcher in his no-decision. In four games started, Hardy owns a 2-0 record and a 0.78 ERA.

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Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2009


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