CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Lose For Eighth Time In Last Nine Games

Published on June 4, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - There have only been three nine-inning complete games in the Carolina League in 2011. Two of them have come over the last two nights at the expense of the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Danny Rosenbaum tossed a three-hit shutout as the Potomac Nationals beat the Blue Crew, 3-0, at Frawley Stadium on Saturday.

Rosenbaum (3-3) fanned six and walked only one. He retired the final 13 batters he faced, had five one-two-three innings and faced the minimum in six different frames. Despite all of his brilliance, the game was still tied entering the ninth inning.

Wilmington starter Elisaul Pimentel had matched the Potomac southpaw pitch for pitch through eight frames. Pimentel allowed just one base-runner over the first seven innings and allowed only one man to reach scoring position throughout his career-long eight-inning outing.

But the right-hander gave way to his bullpen in the final frame, and Kevin Chapman ran into immediate danger. The left-handed reliever yielded a lead-off single to Cutter Dykstra, and then back-to-back bunt base-hits to Eury Perez and Jeff Kobernus. That loaded the bases with nobody out. Destin Hood followed by lifting a fly ball to deep right, but as it drifted foul Wilmington outfielder Yem Prades alertly decided to let it drop rather than letting the go-ahead run score on a sacrifice fly.

The decision seemed like it might pay off when Hood eventually went down on strikes for the first out of the inning. Justin Bloxom picked him up however, lacing a liner that snuck just inside the third-base chalk and into the right-field corner for a bases-clearing double.

It was a frustrating loss for Wilmington, which squandered its only true threat of the night in the sixth. The Rocks loaded the bases thanks to consecutive bizarre plays. Jose Bonilla worked a one-out walk and Joey Lewis appeared to follow by hitting a dead double-play ball toward second. But his liner struck umpire Guss Curtis square in the stomach and both runners were safe at first and second. Curtis rived on the ground in pain before eventually staying on the field after an 11-minute delay.

The long pause did not seem to bother Rosenbaum who induced another apparent double-play grounder to the very next batter. Alex McClure tapped one back to the mound, but shortstop Jose Lozada dropped Rosenbaum's throw to second, loading the bases with just one out. Unfortunately for the Rocks, the crafty left-hander got Whit Merrifield to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 twin killing.

The teams meet again on Sunday afternoon at Frawley Stadium as Potomac vies for the sweep. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m. as Wilmington right-hander Tim Melville (5-5, 4.83) faces Potomac southpaw Mitchell Clegg (2-3, 5.63). Broadcast coverage begins at 1:05 p.m. when studio host Adam Dobrowolski brings fans the Rocks Report Pre-game Show, presented by Wawa, on 89.7 WGLS-FM and online at wgls.rowan.edu. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 4, 2011


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