CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks finish off regular season with sweep

Published on September 4, 2006 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE --- In a preview of the Carolina League Northern Division Championship, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (35-35, 32-36) won 6-3 to complete a three game sweep of the Frederick Keys (26-43, 35-34), Carolina League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Knuckleball starter John Barnes won his second straight decision and Wilmington used a five run fourth to complete the sweep of Frederick.

The Blue Rocks rallied with five runs in the fourth inning off Keys starter Matt Bruback for a 6-2 lead. Jeff Natale led off the frame reaching on an error from Bruback then moved to third on Jed Lowrie's ground rule double. John Otness followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. After Jay Johnson put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up a base Mark Wagner was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Scott White followed with an RBI sac-fly to left field to give Wilmington a 3-2 lead. Iggy Suarez then reached on an RBI single to left field to put the Blue Rocks up 4-2. Bryan Pritz then reached base on another fielding error, this time by third baseman Pete Maestrales, to load the bases again. Jeff Corsaletti followed with a base hit to the first baseman Vito Chiaravollotti. Two runs scored on the play when Chiaravollotti's throwing error to the pitcher covering at first was low and Wilmington led 6-2.

Frederick would get a run back in the fifth inning with an RBI sac-fly to left from Nolan Reimold to trim the lead to 6-3 but that's all they could get off Barnes.

Barnes (2-4) grinded out five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on just two hits. Barnes also walked six and struck out six.

The Rocks bullpen pitched four shutout innings with Scott Shoemaker allowing one hit over two innings and striking out three. Justin Sturge closed out the final two innings allowing a hit, a walk and struck out two for his fourth save of the year.

The Keys took an early 1-0 lead off Barnes in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Maestrales worked a lead off walk then moved up to third after two based balls and scored on a double steal with Reimold taking second base.

Frederick made it 2-0 in the second inning on an RBI sac-fly to center from Ryan Steinbach scoring Morgan Clendenin from third.

Wilmington cut the lead in half when White scored from third on a double play ground out from Prtiz in the fourth inning.

The Blue Rocks and Keys are off on Tuesday before opening the 2006 Carolina League Northern Division series in Frederick on Wednesday night. Game time is at 6:30 p.m. with the Blue Rocks throwing right-hander Clay Buchholz (2-0, 1.13) in Game 1 of the series.

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Carolina League Stories from September 4, 2006


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