CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Offense Awakens In Victory

July 4, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Heads up base running, and solid pitching from the bullpen led the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 4-3 victory over the Kinston Indians on Saturday afternoon.

The Rocks went ahead for good in the bottom of the seventh. Adrian Ortiz started the rally by singling with one out. He then stole second to advance into scoring position. Ortiz went to third on Derrick Robinson's fly ball to deep center, which set the stage for Johnny Giavotella.

Giavotella hit a bouncer up the middle which ricocheted off of the glove arm of pitcher Santo Frias, and caromed towards shortstop. By the time Ronnie Rivas retrieved it, he had no play and Wilmington was ahead, 4-3.

The game did not begin as smashingly for Wilmington. The Rocks spotted Kinston a 3-0 advantage after the Indians' trip to the plate in the second.

But the Blue Crew responded, immediately getting back into the contest by plating a pair in the home second.

Jamar Walton and Paulo Orlando laced back-to-back one-out hits to put runners on second and third. Walton was then brought home on Chase Fontaine's RBI single. Orlando scored one batter later on an Ortiz SAC fly.

Then in the fourth, the Rocks tied the game. Orlando opened the frame with an infield single and advanced to third on a throwing-error by Kinston third baseman Adam Davis. Fontaine followed with an RBI double which evened the score. Fontaine was thrown out on the play trying to stretch it into a triple.

Wilmington reliever Chris Chavez earned the win. Chavez (6-1) tossed a scoreless 2.2 frames. He struck out one and walked one, while allowing two hits.

Juan Abreu closed things out to pick up his ninth save in nine tries. The right-hander entered with two outs and a man on first in the eighth. He immediately ended the Kinston threat with a strikeout of Ryan Blair. Then in the ninth he worked around a lead-off double by Tim Fedroff, stranding the potential tying run at third with a game-ending strikeout of Davis.

Frias (0-1) suffered the loss for Kinston. The right-hander surrendered one run on one hit, and walked a pair in two frames of work.

The Rocks and K-Tribe close out their four-game set on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Rowdy Hardy (2-0, 2.12) takes the hill for Wilmington. He is scheduled to be opposed by Kinston's Ryan Morris (3-8, 5.33).

For tickets call 302-888-BLUE.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Chris Chavez picked up his sixth win of the season on Saturday. That total is best among Wilmington relievers, and is tied for tops on the team among active players.

Johnny Giavotella went 2-for-4 and drove in the winning run. He has now hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games.

Paulo Orlando extended his hitting streak to seven games in the victory. The outfielder went 3-for-4 and scored twice. It was Orlando's eighth multi-hit effort since June 16.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics



Carolina League Stories from July 4, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central