CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Clinch Winning Record In First Half

Published on June 17, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks split a pair of decisions with the Winston-Salem Dash on Friday night at Frawley Stadium. The Blue Crew beat the Dash, 10-5 in the resumption of Thursday's suspended contest, while Winston-Salem rallied to top the Rocks, 3-1 in the nightcap.

Wilmington was one crucial out or one clutch hit away from a potential sweep. The Rocks took a 1-0 advantage into the sixth inning with their ace, Jake Odorizzi, on the mound. But the right-hander loaded the bases with only one out in the frame on a single, a walk and an error by third baseman Rey Navarro.

A fatigued Odorizzi showed enough moxie to fan his final batter of the night, getting Luis Sierra on a called third strike. Reliever Ryan Dennick replaced the right-hander, but the southpaw allowed a two-run single to pinch hitter Jose Martinez that put Winston-Salem in front for good.

Wilmington responded with a two-out threat in the home-sixth. John Whittleman walked and Yem Prades followed with a double to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Jose Bonilla could not come through however, as he whiffed to retire the side.

The Dash added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI infield single by Daniel Wagner.

The pitcher's duel that was game two was a far cry from the opener, which began on Thursday, and saw the two teams combine for 15 runs and 25 hits.

Nick Francis went 4-for-4 and came only a triple shy of the cycle while Joey Lewis also added a single, double and homer in the Rocks' rout.

The Blue Rocks offense unloaded on Winston-Salem Thursday and then Mother Nature unloaded on Frawley Stadium. In their first three trips to the plate the Rocks scored nine runs on 12 hits, including four doubles and three homers, en route to a 9-0 lead. Then the rains came pouring down in the fourth, finally causing the game to be suspended with two outs and a runner at first base in the bottom-half of that frame.

Wilmington wasted little time at the plate, putting its first two batters of the game on courtesy of a double by Whit Merrifield and a single off the bat of Alex McClure. McClure seemed to kill the Rocks' momentum though when he was picked off first. The shortstop got himself caught in a rundown, and Merrifield broke for home. He got stuck between third and the plate long enough for McClure to circle around to third before the center fielder was tagged out for the inning's first out. Navarro popped the next pitch up to first, and a once promising inning seemed to go down the toilet.

Francis came to the rescue however, lacing an RBI double to deep right that put Wilmington in front, 1-0. Whittleman followed with a bouncer that snuck just inside the first-base chalk for a run-scoring two-bag knock that made it, 2-0.

The Rocks picked up right where they left off in the next frame. Lewis laced a one-out solo homer to left to give Wilmington a three-run cushion. After Deivy Batista popped out to short, Merrifield popped up in front of the plate for what should have been an easy third out. But Winston-Salem catcher Mike Blanke booted the play. His error put Merrifield in scoring position, and McClure brought him home with a double to right-center.

Wilmington poured it on in the third, sending nine men to the plate on their way to six runs. Batista and Navarro provided the biggest knocks with a three-run dinger by the Wilmington third baseman and a solo shot by Navarro.

Noel Arguelles kept Winston-Salem off the board for four frames before the rain arrived. Tyler Sample (5-4) followed in his footsteps, and although he yielded five runs on six hits in only four innings, he got the win. Dash starter Joe Serafin (0-6), who allowed nine scores (eight earned) in three frames took the loss.

Wilmington and Winston-Salem will meet again on Saturday at Frawley Stadium, with first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m. Southpaw Justin Marks (2-5, 5.12) gets the ball for Wilmington against Dash right-hander Andre Rienzo (1-2, 3.52). Broadcast coverage begins at 5:35 p.m. when 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. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 17, 2011


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