Rocks Drop Seventh in a Row in Ninth-Inning Heartbreak
Published on July 7, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
The Blue Rocks looked to break their six-game losing streak Friday against the Brooklyn Cyclones.
After 2.1 no-hit innings from Cyclones starter Eli Ankeney, a walk to Jordy Barley would initiate a pitching change, suggesting a bullpen-style strategy for Brooklyn. Two Barley stolen bases later, the Blue Rocks would take advantage of the change with a sacrifice fly from Cody Wilson to give Wilmington a 1-0 lead heading to the fourth.
Blue Rocks starter Rodney Theophile went four scoreless innings before being pulled in favor of lefty Dannel Diaz, who followed up with two scoreless innings of his own.
With Jaren Zinn in to pitch the seventh, two Cyclones would reach on back-to-back singles with one out. With Rhylan Thomas up, he drills a liner down the left field line that initially looked to be an RBI base hit at the least, but left fielder Nick Shumpert sped over to the line to make the catch, and double up the lead runner at second to end the inning. The score remained 1-0 heading into the eighth.
A solid inning from Thomas Ruwe passed the baton to Todd Peterson, who was tasked to record the save in the ninth. After recording the first two outs, a bloop single from Chase Estep landed directly in front of centerfielder Cody Wilson, keeping the inning alive. Peterson would then walk the next batter, putting the winning run on base.
Following a mound visit from the pitching coach Mark DiFelice, the first pitch to batter Junior Tilien would be driven over the left field wall and into the cheering Cyclones bullpen. The three-run home run put the first run on the board for the Cyclones, and gave them a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Blue Rocks would get two runners on in the innings but would be unable to claw back. Wilmington has now dropped seven games in a row and has two more games before the All-Star break to attempt to break the losing streak. They face the Cyclones again on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 7, 2023
- Hot Rods Down Tourists 12-0 at Season's Second Sell Out - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Junior's Ninth Inning Jack Jolts 'Clones Over 'Rocks - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Rough Night in Bowling Green - Asheville Tourists
- Drive Comeback Falls Short as Braves Take Tight 3-2 Ballgame - Greenville Drive
- Home Run Party and Claws Roll to 8-4 Win on Friday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Brown's Walk-Off Single Lifts the Grasshoppers Over the IronBirds, 5-4 in Extra Innings - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Rocks Drop Seventh in a Row in Ninth-Inning Heartbreak - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winston-Salem Rebounds Against Hickory, 7-4 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Dash Seek Bounce Back Effort against Hickory in Game Four Friday Night - Winston-Salem Dash
- HVR Game Notes - July 7, 2023 - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Tourists Searching for Answers After 11-1 Loss to Hot Rods - Asheville Tourists
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