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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks defeat Pelicans, 5-3

July 9, 2006 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Myrtle Beach, SC --- The Wilmington Blue Rocks (35-35, 8-8) broke a three-game losing skid with a 5-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Coastal Field on Sunday night. Jeff Corsaletti went 3-for-5 with three doubles, driving in three runs as the Rocks evened the series at one game apiece.

In the ninth, the Pelicans had runners at second and third with two outs with Kala Ka'aihue at the plate. The power-hitting first baseman entered the night with 18 home runs on the year, good for second place in all of A-ball. But Wilmington closer Mike James struck out Ka'aihue looking to end the game and earn his 14th save in 14 tries this season.

The Blue Rocks never trailed on the night, taking a 1-0 lead on a Jeff Natale sacrifice fly in the opening inning. Corsaletti made it 2-0 in the fourth with his first of three doubles on the night, scoring Jed Lowrie all the way from first base.

Myrtle Beach scored just once against Wilmington starter Gary Galvez. Three straight hits resulted in a run at the start of the fifth for a 2-1 score. Galvez retired the next three men in order to stop the bleeding and left the game in line for the win. The Cuban native went six innings allowing a run on five hits and a walk, striking out three.

Galvez left with a three-run lead thanks to Natale's RBI single in the sixth. In the seventh, Justin Sturge started the inning by hitting Diory Hernandez with a pitch. Sturge struck out Mark Jurich swinging, but allowed back-to-back singles to Clint Sammons and Greg Creek for a one-run game, 3-2. J.C. Holt followed with a groundout to second, advancing Sammons to third and Creek to second. Sturge threw a wild pitch with Matt Young at the plate, scoring Sammons from third for a tie game, 3-3.

Sturge worked his way out of trouble. After a pair of walks to load the bases, the lefty got Ka'aihue to ground out to short, ending the inning. Sturge (3-1) earned the win with one inning of two-run, two-hit ball, walking two and striking out one with throwing a wild pitch and hitting a batter.

Wilmington took the lead back in the eighth with just one hit. The first two batters, Lowrie and Natale, both walked. Corsaletti was at the plate when a wild pitch by reliever Joey Devine gave the runners second and third. On a full-count pitch, Corsaletti doubled to right for the third time on the game, driving in both runners for a 5-3 lead.

Devine (0-1) took the loss going 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out two and throwing that wild pitch.

Wilmington and Myrtle Beach conclude their series on Monday night at 7:02 p.m. The Blue Rocks will throw lefty Tommy Hottovy (8-6, 2.77) against spot-starting right-hander Stephen Russell (2-0, 2.31).

GAME NOTES: In nine games as the No. 5 hitter, Jeff Corsaletti has gone 12-for-28 (.429) with eight doubles and 10 RBIs.

The Blue Rocks left 11 men on base in the game, seven in scoring position. Wilmington left the bases loaded three times in the last four innings.

Jeff Corsaletti is just the second Rock to double three times in a game this season. Claudio Arias also collected three doubles on May 1 versus Potomac.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 0-for-5 with a strikeout, ending his hitting streak at five.

Iggy Suarez started at third base for the first time all season.

DAMON'S GRILL PLAYER OF THE GAME: Wilmington OF Jeff Corsaletti: 3-for-5, 3 2B, 3RBIs

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