CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Fall to Fayetteville But Magic Number Drops to Three

Published on June 6, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Prospect Seuly Matias had two hits and scored a run but it wasn't enough for the Wilmington Blue Rocks who dropped an 8-1 decision to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Thursday at Frawley Stadium. In spite of the loss Wilmington's magic number to clinch a first-half CL North crown still lowered to three thanks to setbacks by both Frederick and Lynchburg. The Blue Crew maintained an 8.5 game lead with 10 contests remaining.

It was a rough night all around for the home team. Daniel Tillo allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in just 4.1 frames. The lefty fanned seven and walked two, but needed 97 pitches to record 13 outs.

Fayetteville got three in the second thanks to an error by first baseman Nick Pratto an RBI-grounder from Michael Papierski and a sacrifice fly by Bryan De La Cruz. The Woodpeckers added a run in the fourth thanks to a seeing-eye single from Papierski. Jake Adams concluded Tillo's night with a solo shot in the fifth.

Meanwhile the Wilmington offense could not buy a big hit. The Blue Crew put at least one runner in scoring position in seven of their nine trips to the plate, but went just 1-for-18 with men at second and/or third base. Matias avoided the shutout for the Rocks in the eighth when he opened the frame with a double to left and came home on Ricky Aracena's RBI fielder's choice.

Wilmington continues its seven-game homestand on Friday against Fayetteville. Southpaw Kris Bubic will get the ball for the Blue Crew as first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at BlueRocks.com. Fans who cannot make it to the ballpark can catch all the action with the Voice of the Blue Rocks, Cory Nidoh on 89.7 WGLS-FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Seuly Matias is beginning to show some progress at the plate for Wilmington. The sixth-ranked prospect in the Royals system, according to MLB.com, now has hits in four consecutive contests, which equals his longest hitting streak of the season. Matias went 2-for-4 and scored the Rocks' only run. It was his first multi-hit game since April 27 at Lynchburg.

The Rocks allowed a pair of home runs on Thursday. It was only the third time the Blue Crew have yielded multiple long balls in the same game. It has happened twice against Fayetteville. The Woodpeckers have six total homers against Wilmington this season in only five games. That is tied with Frederick for the most dingers by any opponent against the Rocks in 2019.

Four has been the magic number for the Wilmington offense in 2019. When the Rocks score four times in a game, they are 22-2 on the year. Conversely, when Wilmington manages just three scores or fewer in an affair the team is only 14-20.

Thursday's game lasted three hours and 53 minutes, which was Wilmington's longest of the season. In fact it was the longest nine-inning game in franchise history. The previous record was three hours and 50 minutes, set on August 28, 2018 at Lynchburg. The longest game ever was a six hours and 23 minute marathon that last 20 innings on July 5, 1998.

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2019


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