CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks' Offensive Continues In 7-6 Win

Published on April 27, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Salem, VA - For the second straight series, Wilmington faces a foe with the best record in the league at the start. For the second straight series, the Blue Rocks took the opener of such a set. In fact, the Blue Crew (9-9) never trailed Monday night, but held on tight late to top the Salem Red Sox (12-6) at Memorial Stadium, 7-6. A Blue Rocks squad that ranked dead last among Carolina League squads in team batting average entering its current road trip notched double-digit knocks for the fourth straight game on the journey.

The day after his 24th birthday, starter Ivor Hodgson (2-0) secured his first win as a starter this season with some thanks to an offense that struck first on the evening's very first pitch. Adrian Ortiz bunted that offering from Fabian Williamson (3-1) for a single. Patrick Norris sacrificed him up before Ortiz stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Tim Federowicz. Eric Hosmer then doubled and scored when Jamie Romak followed with an RBI single to left.

While run-scoring hits by Ryan Dent and Peter Hissey tied the game in the second, the Blue Rocks ripped off four unanswered runs and led the rest of the way.

Salvador Perez hit into an around-the-horn double play to plate Eddie Prasch in the fourth. Jason Taylor collected an RBI with a groundout in the fifth and Romak scored later in the inning on a fielder's choice RBI from his former Lynchburg Hillcats teammate in Prasch. That hung a fifth run on Williamson who suffered his first loss in four starts. He gave up nine hits and walked three over five frames. Hosmer concluded the scoring run with a two-out RBI double against reliever Jeremy Kehrt in the sixth.

Salem notched a pair of runs in the sixth in chasing Hodgson. Will Middlebrooks hit a solo homer to left with two outs before an infield hit and a walk prompted a change to Buddy Baumann. The southpaw walked the first two he faced, including a bases-loaded free pass to Alex Hassan, before Hissey flied out to center to end the inning.

An exchange of single scores in the seventh saw Taylor homer to left and Ryan Lavarnway single home his league-leading 23rd RBI.

Hissey plated Drew Hedman with a two-out single in the eighth to draw the Red Sox within a run, 7-6. Federowicz singled thereafter and Wilmington manager Brian Rupp turned to closer Eric Basurto, who worked a full-count pop out to short from top-10 Boston prospect Anthony Rizzo to quell the threat. Basurto tossed a perfect ninth for his second save.

Hodgson gave up four runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in his first outing since April 17.

The series continues on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Prospect southpaw Chris Dwyer (0-1, 3.46) will face right-hander Caleb Clay (1-0, 3.21).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

According to the Kansas City Star, Royals officials have confirmed that southpaw Michael Montgomery will be promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He was named the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Week for a second time this season Monday afternoon by the league office.

Eric Hosmer finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. He boosted his league-best batting average to .446. He has reached base safely in all 18 Blue Rocks games in posting a league-high .532 on-base percentage and 1.163 OPS. The former No. 3 overall pick in the draft leads the team with 13 RBIs.

Two other Blue Rocks finished with three-hit nights. Adrian Ortiz got two of his three hits on the infield and increased his Carolina League-best stolen base total to eight. Jamie Romak doubled among his three knocks and collected an RBI to stay within one of Hosmer for the team lead.

After entering this road trip hitting a league-worst .221, the Blue Rocks have hit .365 (54-for-148) over the series to raise their team contact clip to .258.

Wilmington pitching walked (4) more Red Sox than it struck out (3).

Jason Taylor went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a walk. The former second-round pick began the season in a 4-for-41 (.098) funk, but has hits in six straight games since. Over that run, he has hit .321 (9-for-23) with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored to more than double his batting average to .203.

The Royals made some other roster moves on Monday. Catcher Ben Theriot returned from Double-A Northwest Arkansas, while fellow backstop Juan Graterol headed to Low-A Burlington. Reliever James Thompson also was activated off the disabled list.

The Blue Rocks have won four of their last five overall and five of six on the road.

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Carolina League Stories from April 27, 2010


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