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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks' Bats Return

August 12, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE- After managing just three runs in its previous 23 innings, the Wilmington Blue Rocks' offense exploded on Friday night at Frawley Stadium.

The Rocks surpassed that total in the first inning, scoring four times on the way to a 9-3 rout of the Lynchburg Hillcats.

The win snapped the Blue Crew's three-game losing streak.

After digging themselves a 1-0 deficit in the top of the first, the Rocks used three extra-base hits to post a crooked number in the home-half of the frame.

Whit Merrifield got the evening started in style with a triple to left.

Carlo Testa was then hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and third for Nick Van Stratten.

The Wilmington right fielder tied the game by doubling down the line in left to score Merrifield.

John Whittleman followed with a sacrifice fly to center that made it, 2-1, and then Ryan Stovall added to the advantage with an RBI chopper to short.

Yem Prades capped off the inning when he sent Matt Crim's (1-7) next pitch over the left-field fence, for a solo homer.

The Rocks would never look back.

Despite failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the second, Wilmington got right back at it in the fourth.

Van Stratten sent a chopper toward short that Andrelton Simmons misplayed, allowing a pair of runs to score.

Tim Ferguson added another tally in the fifth when he plated Stovall with a sacrifice fly to right.

Meanwhile, Rocks starter Tyler Sample settled in nicely after a rough first inning.

The right-hander kept the Hillcats off the board over the next four frames despite not recording a single strikeout.

He finally ran into more danger in the sixth, but despite allowing a pair of runs to score, Sample (7-10) did well to keep the Hillcats at arm's length.

Sample saw an infield single and an error in the frame help Lynchburg pull back to within, 7-3.

The Hillcats threatened to pull even closer, with runners at second and third and only one out.

But the Wilmington hurler got L.V. Ware to pop out to short and then induced an inning-ending fly ball to right by Marcus Lemon.

The Rocks authored an immediate response in the bottom of the sixth when Van Stratten came through with his third RBI of the night.

The right fielder, who finished the game 3-for-4, scored Testa with a single to right.

Jose Bonilla capped the scoring with his solo home run in the seventh.

Jonathan Keck did not allow a run over the final three innings to earn his second save of the season.

The Rocks continue this seven-game homestand on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. encounter with the Hillcats.

Justin Marks (7-8, 4.44) hits the hill for Wilmington against Lynchburg left-hander Chris Masters (7-5, 3.35). Broadcast coverage begins at 5:35 p.m. as studio host Adam Dobrowolski brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu.

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