CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rallying Rocks Steal Win in Salem

Published on June 2, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Salem, VA - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (22-33) kept on fighting in an offensive shootout that ended with the Rocks beating the Salem Red Sox (26-26) by a score of 7-5 on Saturday night. Kort Peterson hit his sixth homer of the season in the top of the ninth to steal the game from the Sox.

Salem got the scoring started in the bottom of the first. With runners on the corners, Ofreidy Gomez tossed a wild pitch to bring the first run home and put the Red Sox on top 1-0. Later in the inning, Bobby Dalbec smacked an RBI double to center to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Blue Rocks would respond over a couple of innings with their first tally coming in the third inning. Gabriel Cancel lined a single up the middle to score Nick Heath and cut the deficit, 2-1. Cancel struck again in the top of the fifth with an RBI groundout to tie the game, 2-2.

Just as Wilmington grabbed the lead, Salem came up with a response in their half of the fifth. Dalbec started the scoring with a solo home-run to left field to put the Red Sox back on top, 3-2. Later in the frame with a runner on third, a pitch got away from catcher Chase Vallot that leaked far enough to score another run making it a 4-2 ballgame. Jordan Wren added some insurance with a solo shot of his own to right to give Salem a 5-2 lead.

The Rocks slowly but surely clawed back at the lead. In the top of the sixth Chris DeVito hit a single through the gap in left to bring home Meibrys Viloria and put Wilmington back in the game, 5-3. Later in the seventh with the bases loaded, Vallot was hit by a pitch, bringing Heath home, and getting Wilmington within one, 5-4. A wild pitch by Jared Oliver was deep enough to score Kort Peterson and tie the game 5-5.

Just when it seemed like The Blue Rocks were heading for their second extra-inning game of the season, Peterson drove the ball deep to right for a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth to give Wilmington it's first lead of the game 7-5.  

The Rocks will try to win the series on Sunday, June 3 at 4:05 p.m. On the mound for the Blue Rocks will be right-hander Gerson Garabito (1-5, 3.96 ERA). He will be opposed by Red Sox righty Jake Thompson (2-3, ERA 4.64). Fans can tune into all the action with Matt Janus on the call on 89.7 WGLS-FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Kort Peterson's homerun in the top of the ninth was his sixth of the season. Peterson is now tied with Chase Vallot for the team lead with six. Peterson also leads the team with four multi-run homeruns. Vallot hit his sixth homer of the season against the Frederick Keys back on May 29. This also marks the sixth game Peterson has acquired multiple RBI's. Cancel also added to his tally with his fourth multi-RBI game of the season.

The Blue Rocks have struggled at Haley Toyota Field. Coming into tonight's game Wilmington was 0-7 in Salem. The last time the Rocks won on Red Sox soil was back on August 27 of 2017 where Wilmington pulled out a 2-1 win in extra innings.

With the win Saturday night, the Blue Rocks earned their 12th come-from-behind victory and improve to 4-1 when tied after seven innings and 2-1 when tied after eight.

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Carolina League Stories from June 2, 2018


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