CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks on Top by Nine Runs as Game Suspended in Fourth

Published on June 16, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks offense unloaded on the Winston-Salem Dash, and then Mother Nature unloaded on Frawley Stadium. In their first three trips to the plate on Thursday night the Rocks scored nine runs on 12 hits, including four doubles and three homers, en route to a 9-0 lead. Then the rains came pouring down in the fourth, finally causing the game to be suspended with two outs and a runner at first base in the bottom-half of that frame.

Wilmington wasted little time at the plate, putting its first two batters of the game on courtesy of a double by Whit Merrifield and a single off the bat of Alex McClure. McClure seemed to kill the Rocks' momentum though when he was picked off first. The shortstop got himself caught in a rundown, and Merrifield broke for home. He got stuck between third and the plate long enough for McClure to circle around to third before the center fielder was tagged out for the inning's first out. Rey Navarro popped the next pitch up to first, and a once promising inning seemed to go down the toilet.

Nick Francis came to the rescue however, lacing an RBI double to deep right that put Wilmington in front, 1-0. John Whittleman followed with a bouncer that snuck just inside the first-base chalk for a run-scoring two-bag knock that made it, 2-0.

The Rocks picked up right where they left off in the next frame. Joey Lewis laced a one-out solo homer to left to give Wilmington a three-run cushion. After Deivy Batista popped out to short, Merrifield popped up in front of the plate for what should have been an easy third out. But Winston-Salem catcher Mike Blanke booted the play. His error put Merrifield in scoring position, and McClure brought him home with a double to right-center.

Wilmington poured it on in the third, sending nine men to the plate on their way to six runs. Batista and Navarro provided the biggest knocks with a three-run dinger by the Wilmington third baseman and a solo shot by Navarro.

Noel Arguelles kept Winston-Salem off the board for 3.2 frames before the rain arrived.

The contest will resume on Friday at 5:05 p.m. and will be played through completion. A seven-inning contest will follow. Jake Odorizzi (5-1, 2.97) will hit the hill for the Rocks in the nightcap against Winston-Salem right-hander Justin Collop (0-3, 6.00). Broadcast coverage begins at 4:35 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.

There will be a postgame fireworks show presented by Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union after the seven-inning game. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Alex McClure went 2-for-3 before the game was suspended. Thursday was the shortstop's 22nd birthday.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are collecting baseball equipment to send to tornado victims in Joplin, MO. The tornado-ravaged town, where Blue Rocks pitching coach Steve Luebber lives during the offseason, is seeking to regain some semblance of normalcy to their daily routines, and a big part of that is youth baseball. The franchise seeks to aid Joplin's rebuilding cause by donating to local teams. The Rocks are asking fans to bring any new or used equipment to any game during the team's current homestand, which runs Thursday, June 16 through Sunday, June 19. It will in turn be shipped west to replace what Mother Nature destroyed in Joplin. Cash donations will also be accepted at the customer service table in the center of Frawley Stadium's main concourse, or by calling Megan Holloway at 302-888-2558.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from June 16, 2011


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