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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Alone in First After a 5-1 Road Trip

August 9, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA - An early 3-0 deficit proved little obstacle for the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday afternoon as they scored six unanswered runs, including three in the eighth inning, on their way to a 6-4 victory. The win was Wilmington's 13th in its last 14 games, and gave the Rocks a series victory in their pivotal four-game weekend set with the Potomac Nationals. As a result, the Blue Crew leaves Pfitzner Stadium in sole possession of first place in the Carolina League's Northern Division.

Second baseman Johnny Giavotella jumpstarted Wilmington's eighth-inning rally. With the game tied 3-3, Giavotella nearly put the Rocks in front on one pitch as he lofted a fly ball with home-run distance that drifted just foul down the left-field line. The former second-round draft pick had another trick up his sleeve though as he roped a double down the left-field line off of reliever Dan Leatherman (5-1).

That would be the last pitch of Leatherman's day, as the reliever gave way to bullpen mate Patrick McCoy. The southpaw was charged with stifling the left-handed Wilmington sticks that were due up, a task he failed to accomplish.

McCoy did manage to retire Mike Moustakas, but the third baseman had a productive at-bat as his grounder to second moved Giavotella to third. That would prove pivotal, as the University of New Orleans product came home to score on Potomac catcher Devin Ivany's passed ball.

Clint Robinson followed with a double, and after Eric Hosmer grounded out, Nick Van Startten received an intentional walk. It brought up lefty Jamar Walton, who came through with a clutch RBI double to left-center. The Potomac defense gave Wilmington an extra score on the play as Dan Nelson kicked the ball for an error and allowed a hustling Van Stratten to score as well.

Brandon Sisk came on in the eighth and recorded the final six outs. It was the left-hander's fourth two-inning save of the season, and his 14th overall in 17 tries. But it proved far from ordinary.

After setting the P-Nats down in order in the eighth, Sisk ran into major trouble in the home ninth. A one-out broken-bat single by Michael Burgess kicked off a nail-biting finish.

After punching out Chris Marrero to pull within one out of victory, Sisk issued a free pass to Ivany, and then a single to Nelson that brought home Burgess and moved Ivany to third. Nelson made things extremely interesting when he stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Sisk got Tim Pahuta to fly out to center to cement the victory.

The game certainly did not begin as spectacularly for the Blue Crew. Wilmington starter Ray Liotta, who had not allowed an earned run in three straight starts over 17 innings, surrendered two on Sunday before recording an out.

Liotta was greeted by back-to-back triples off the bats of Michael Martinez and Danny Espinosa. Martinez got his three-bagger on a high fly ball which Van Stratten lost in the sun. As the right fielder came forward to make the catch he lost sight of the ball and fell down just short of the chalk. Martinez went to third and came home on Espinosa's clean triple to left-center. Espinosa then scored on a Jesus Valdez single.

From there Liotta would settle down though. He would allow one more score on an Espinosa RBI single in the third, but that was it. He finished his afternoon after 5.1, innings, surrendering the three tallies on six hits. He pitched well enough to keep the Rocks in the game.

In the sixth inning the Wilmington offense finally awoke from its prolonged slumber. After going 14 consecutive innings without a run dating back to Saturday night, the Rocks sent eight batters to the plate and got four straight two-out hits to forge a three-run rally and tie the game at 3-3.

Anthony Seratelli opened the inning with a perfectly placed double down the right-field line. Two outs later Moustakas brought the shortstop home with an RBI single. Robinson then got a little piece of luck as he chopped one sharply back towards the mound that ricocheted off the glove of starter Brad Peacock. The fortunate bounce allowed Robinson to reach on an infield single and continued the inning.

Hosmer followed with a sharp line-drive single to left that scored Moustakas and brought the Blue Crew within a run. Van Stratten then roped a double to left which plated Robinson and Hosmer for a 3-3 deadlock.

Zach Peterson replaced Liotta in the sixth with one out and runners at first and second, but the reliever immediately escaped the jam by inducing a line-drive double play off the bat of Chris Marrero. Peterson (2-0) also worked a perfect seventh to earn the victory.

After a league-wide day of rest on Monday, the Blue Rocks return home for a seven-game, six-day homestand starting on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The Rocks will welcome the first-half Southern Division champion Winston-Salem Dash to Frawley Stadium. Lefty Michael Montgomery (6-11, 4.13) will get the start for Wilmington against Winston-Salem right-hander Jacob Rasner (3-3, 3.66).

The first 1,250 fans in attendance will receive a travel mug courtesy of P.J. Fitzpatrick, Inc. The Blue Rocks invite our fans to find out if they are smarter than a 5th grader with related theme activities throughout the night. It will be Avon Grove Area Little League Day and a KRAFT Singles Ticket Tuesday. Bring a KRAFT Singles package wrapper to any Tuesday home game to buy one ticket and get one free. Visit kraftsingles.com for more details. As always, it will be a TWO-riffic Tuesday where all fans can get two box seats, two hot dogs, two sodas, two scorecards, and two balls for only $26.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Nick Van Stratten went 3-for-3 in the victory, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Over the streak, he has hit .378 (14-for-37). It marks his second multi-hit game as a Blue Rock. Mike Moustakas has the team's best hitting streak of the season with a 12-gamer from May 8-21.

Speaking of the top Royals' prospect, Moustakas drove in a run in each of the team's three wins on the series. His 69 RBIs lead the team and rank second on the K.C. farm.

Ray Liotta made the start in place of teammate Mario Santiago who is suffering from a little bit of a tired arm as the season stretches into its final month. Santiago has thrown 120 innings in 21 starts. The right-hander is expected to return to the rotation on Friday night in the opener of the final series this season between Wilmington and Potomac.

Zach Peterson, who earned his second victory on Sunday, has not allowed an earned run in 12 of his 14 appearances as a Blue Rock. With the scoreless outing the Minnesota native lowered his ERA to 0.73. He has stranded 11 of 15 inherited runners (73%).

The Blue Rocks win on Sunday gave them a winning record at Pfitzner Stadium in 2009. The Rocks finished the year 6-4 on the road against their CL North rival.

In their three wins on the series, the Blue Rocks outscored Potomac 19-6 and out-hit the P-Nats 34-15. Wilmington pitching retired Potomac bats 1-2-3 19 times over 35 innings.

The Blue Rocks improved to 51-1 when leading after eight innings, the most such wins in the league.

Make it seven straight series wins overall and 12 in a row on the road. Wilmington has not lost a road series since dropping two of three at Lynchburg May 15-17.

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