CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Drop Rubber Match to Potomac

Published on June 27, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Top prospect Mike Moustakas was ejected, the Blue Rocks had two men cut down at the plate and three Wilmington errors marred a lackluster series finale, as the Blue Crew dropped a 5-2 decision to the Potomac Nationals.

Wilmington's struggles began in the third inning as the P-Nats took an early lead with two runs off of starter Mario Santiago. Singles by Tim Pahuta and Dan Nelson opened the frame. After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Stephen King, Sean Rooney laced and an RBI single, and Danny Espinosa followed with a SAC fly to center. It gave Potomac an advantage it would not relinquish.

The Rocks answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of a two-out rally. Paulo Orlando got it started with a double. He then scored on Anthony Seratelli's run-scoring two-base hit off the top of the wall in right.

But Potomac pushed the lead back to two runs thanks to a pair of Wilmington mistakes in the fifth. Josh Johnson fired wide of first base on a one-out Stephen King ground ball to third. King then stole second and advanced to third on Matt Morizio's throwing error. That brought the infield in, and gave Sean Rooney room to bloop a single into very shallow right field, which scored King, and made it 3-1 Potomac.

In the fifth inning, Wilmington loaded the bases, but failed to score when Clint Robinson's grounder to third got Johnson thrown out at the plate.

The Rocks again crawled to within one in the sixth, but should have gotten more. Orlando singled and eventually came around to score on Jamar Walton's RBI single back through the box. Then with runners on second and third, Johnson hit a groundball right to first baseman Chris Marrero. Marrero fired home just in time to retire Seratelli.

Instead of a tie game, Potomac maintained its lead and then closed the door in the next half inning. The P-Nats scored once on a Carlos Rivas wild pitch, and then got their second run of the frame on Michael Burgess' infield single.

Wilmington did not quit though, as it brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame. With two outs and nobody on, Atahualpa Severino struck out Derrick Robinson. But a wild pitch allowed Robinson to reach first and kept the game alive. Johnny Giavotella then singled to put two men on for Clint Robinson. But the Alabama Hammer, who did not start because of a sore arm, could not come through. He struck out looking to end the game.

Robinson was only in the lineup because of another called third strike earlier in the game.

Moustakas was ejected by home plate umpire Drew Ashcraft after arguing a strikeout in the bottom of the fourth. With Moustakas gone, Robinson entered at his spot in the batting order, while Seratelli moved to shortstop and Johnson went to third base defensively.

Santiago took the loss, thanks to his shortest outing since May 12. The right-hander threw a ton of pitches as he surrendered three runs (two earned) over five innings.

Potomac's Terrence Engles (1-2) also lasted five frames, allowing two runs to earn his first win of the season. Severino picked up his 10th save.

The Rocks travel to Frederick on Sunday to take on the Keys at 6:05 p.m. Eduardo Paulino (3-4, 4.45) makes the start for Wilmington, while Frederick will counter with Rick Zagone

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Carolina League Stories from June 27, 2009


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