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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Close Regular Season in Style with Win

September 7, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE- Less than 24 hours after notching four hits, Jamar Walton only managed one on Monday afternoon. But it came at the perfect time, as his two-run double broke up a scoreless tie, and put the Wilmington Blue Rocks on top to stay in a 3-0 win over the Frederick Keys in the 2009 regular season finale at Frawley Stadium.

The Rocks broke open a pitcher's duel with four straight hits to start the seventh inning. Clint Robinson got things going when he sent a fly ball to the foot of the wall in right-center that went for a double. Eric Hosmer followed with a soft liner up the middle to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

After Hosmer advanced to second on a wild pitch, it set the stage for Walton. The right fielder's liner found the left-center field gap for a double, that allowed both Robinson and Hosmer to score, giving Wilmington a 2-0 advantage. Josh Johnson hit one in the same direction two pitches later as his bleeder also found the left-center gap, plating Walton for an RBI two-bagger.

Those four at-bats accounted for all of the game's offense, and it cost Frederick starter Sean Gleason the decision. Gleason (4-9) had surrendered only three hits and nary a run entering the frame. But the sudden turnaround chased him from the contest, as Johnson's double came on Gleason's final pitch of the day.

His counterpart, Wilmington starter Alex Caldera was superb in his six innings of work. The right-hander did not allow a run, and gave up only three hits while striking out seven. But the game was still scoreless when he gave way to reliever Carlos Rivas in the seventh.

Rivas (5-3) had not pitched since leaving the game mid-inning with a sore back on September 2. But the southpaw tossed a scoreless frame, fanning two in the process, to grab the win.

Zach Peterson came on and kept Frederick off the board in the eighth, which allowed Patrick Keating to nail down his first Advanced-A save by facing the minimum in the ninth.

With the regular season in the rear view mirror now, Wilmington is set to embark on its postseason journey. The Rocks depart Wilmington for Lynchburg on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They will face the Hillcats in Game One of the Northern Division Championship Series (NDCS) on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Wilmington will send its team-leader in wins, Eduardo Paulino (10-6, 3.63), to the mound, while Lynchburg counters with left-hander Jeff Locke (5-8, 4.59). The Rocks will return home for Game Three of the NDCS on Friday at 7:05 p.m. It is a best of five series.

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PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Blue Rocks posted their Carolina League-leading 16th shutout victory of the season on Monday. That total comes up just one shy of the franchise record which was set in 1995.

Monday's regular season finale flew by, lasting just one minute over two hours. That still comes up six minutes short of the Rocks shortest nine-inning game of the season. Wilmington beat Salem, 1-0, at Frawley Stadium on June 8 in a game that took only 1:55.

One of the reasons the game went by so quickly was the free-swinging nature of both teams. The contest featured 13 one-pitch at-bats.

Monday's performance marked the first time Alex Caldera has posted three consecutive quality starts in 2009. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his last 23 innings pitched.

The Rocks finished the regular season in style, winning six-of-seven overall, seven-of-eight against the Frederick Keys, and eight of their last nine games at home.

Clint Robinson stepped into the box with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the eighth inning needing a hit to bring his average to .300 for the year. But the Alabama-native struck out, leaving his season total at .299. That was still good for second in the CL. He also finished the year with 201 total bases.

Potomac beat Kinston, 9-4, on Monday to give the Salem Red Sox the final postseason berth in the Carolina League playoffs. The Sox will visit the Winston-Salem Dash on Wednesday in Game One of the Southern Division Championship Series.

Wilmington finished the regular season with a .256 team batting average, and a Carolina League best staff ERA of 3.10. Wilmington also wrapped up the campaign with 40 wins at home.

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Carolina League Stories from September 7, 2009


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