CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks and K-Tribe Split Doubleheader

Published on April 22, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - A long but exciting night at Frawley Stadium came to an end on Thursday with a split doubleheader as the Kinston Indians and Wilmington Blue Rocks each took a game in the twin-bill. Kinston won the opener in extra innings, 7-4, while Wilmington outlasted the K-Tribe in the nightcap, 4-3.

Game one, which was slated for seven innings, ended up going nine. The contest saw a fast start, a late rally, multiple squandered opportunities and finally an ultimate hero. When it was all said and done Kinston had used 14 position players, lost its DH, but won the war of attrition.

The K-Tribe used a bases loaded double to left by Richard Martinez off Wilmington reliever Manauris Baez (1-1) to turn a 4-4 tie into a 7-4 win. Martinez, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth, broke a string of failed chances by both teams to garner control of the game.

Wilmington put its lead-off batter on third base in the home seventh, as Adrian Ortiz singled and advanced to third on Kyle Bellows' throwing error. But after a liner back to the mound and an intentional walk, Jamie Romak bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

The Blue Rocks let another opportunity slip through their fingers in the eighth. Jamar Walton got to third on an error by left fielder Donnie Webb to open the frame. Jason Taylor followed with a fly out to shallow right, and then Ryan Wood hit a grounder to third. Bellows threw home in time to cut down Walton at the plate.

Meanwhile Kinston's Jason Kipnis tripled with one out in its half of the seventh, but Wilmington reliever Buddy Baumann wiggled his way out of the jam unscathed.

The Rocks had a 4-1 advantage entering the sixth, but watched Kinston score three in the frame to pull even. Eric Basurto allowed the damage.

The K-Tribe opened the inning with a pair of line-drive singles. After a walk loaded the bases, Basurto was called for a balk, bringing home a run and moving the potential tying-score into scoring position.

Basurto battled back though, striking out back-to-back hitters. But Kinston center fielder Adam Davis fouled off a pair of 3-2 pitches before drilling a two-run double off the wall in right to tie the game.

Wilmington snuck out to its lead courtesy of three runs in the first and one more in the fourth. The Rocks' first three batters reached, which set up an RBI single by Romak, an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Walton, and a sacrifice fly to left by Taylor. Taylor then hit his first home run of the season to lead off the fourth.

In the nightcap Wilmington again got out to an early lead courtesy of two runs in the third. With one out Kinston starter T.J. House's throwing error on a Fernando Garcia comebacker sparked the Blue Crew rally. Garcia then stole second and moved to third on an Ortiz groundout.

Patrick Norris followed with a double to left which brought home Garcia. Hosmer then scored Norris with his grounder up the middle.

Kinston would not go down quietly however, as it charged ahead courtesy of a three-run fifth inning. Starter Alex Caldera, who had a strong outing, allowed the damage. A Martinez RBI single cut the lead in half, and then a two-run Karexon Sanchez triple gave the K-Tribe a 3-2 lead.

Wilmington bounced back in the home half of the frame with two runs of its own. The Rocks used singles by Norris and Ortiz to put runners on the corners. Hosmer then bounced one softly to shortstop Ronald Rivas, who flipped to Kipnis covering at second. The problem for Kinston was Kipnis failed to glove the ball, everyone was safe and Ortiz had scored.

The Rocks then loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Brett Brach, who was pulled for bullpen mate Bryce Stowell. Stowell issued a free pass on five pitches to catcher Juan Graterol, which forced in a run, and put Wilmington in front to stay.

Brach took the loss, surrendering two runs in two-thirds of an inning, while Caldera (1-1) grabbed the win. The right-hander finished his night after six frames, having only allowed three runs on six hits and striking out seven.

Wilmington begins a six-game road trip on Friday night in Winston-Salem at 7:05 p.m. The game, which is already sold out, will feature Blue Rocks right-hander Jairo Cuevas (0-2, 8.68) against Winston-Salem's Stephen Sauer (0-0, 4.09).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Eric Hosmer, who saw his season-opening 11-game hitting streak come to a close on Tuesday night, went a combined 3-for-7 with two RBIs and a run scored in the doubleheader. The 2008 first round pick has reached base safely in all 14 Blue Rocks games in 2010.

Wilmington infielder Ryan Wood is happy to see the seven-game homestand come to a close. Wood went 0-for-6 in the doubleheader on Thursday, and finished the homestand a measly 1-for-20.

Adrian Ortiz stole a base in each game, bringing his team-leading total to seven for the season.

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Carolina League Stories from April 22, 2010


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