Rocks rally from three down, win 7-4
Published on June 13, 2006 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Woodbridge, VA --- The Wilmington Blue Rocks (30-35) rallied from a three-run deficit for the third time this season and defeated the Potomac Nationals (31-34), 7-4, on Tuesday night. With their win, and Lynchurg's loss at Kinston, the Rocks stand just 1.5 games out of first place in the Carolina League's Northern Division. The Blue Rocks have five games remaining in the season's first half.
Down 3-0 in the fifth, the Rocks had failed to put a man on base through four innings against Potomac starter Collin Balester. However, Jeff Natale worked a lead-off, full-count walk to start the frame and break up the perfect-game bid. Two outs later, Matt Kent took a high fastball on a 2-0 count over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season and Wilmington's first hit of the game, cutting the Rocks' deficit to 3-2.
The Rocks tied it in the sixth when Iggy Suarez led off with a single and Bryan Pritz brought him home on an RBI double to left-center.
In the eighth, Nationals' right-handed reliever Chris Thompson (0-1) allowed four runs without recording an out to give Wilmington its first lead of the game. Mickey Hall reached on a full-count walk, Iggy Suarez hit an infield single and Jacoby Ellsbury worked a walk to load the bases. Again, Pritz came to the plate, and again, he delivered.
Prtiz drilled a 2-0 pitch into left that got past Marvin Lowrance and rolled to the wall. The former University of Richmond Spider drove in three runs with a triple for a 6-3 Wilmington lead. Jed Lowrie followed with an RBI single to right for a 7-3 cushion.
The Nationals scratched out an unearned run against Kyle Jackson (4-0) in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to three Wilmington errors. Jackson allowed just that one unearned tally over 1.1 innings on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.
In the ninth, Carolina League All-Star Mike James entered with his team leading 7-4. After a pair of line outs, Devin Ivany and Cristian Guerrero (cousin of major leaguer Vladimir Guerrero) each earned two-out singles up the middle. Power-hitter Brandon Powell came to the plate as the tying run and worked a full count. But James induced a groundout to first base to clinch his 11th save of the season and a 7-4 Wilmington win.
The Blue Rocks continue their three-game series with Potomac on Wednesday night. The latest Blue Rock, right-hander Kevin Guyette, will start for Wilmington. Guyette, who joined Wilmington on Tuesday from Low-A Greenville (SAL), went 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 13 games and eight starts for the Drive. Potomac will counter with southpaw Jon Felfoldi (1-2, 5.02). First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Wilmington starter Andrew Dobies went six innings allowing three runs on eighth hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Dobies took a no-decision after losing each of his last three starts entering Tuesday.
Kevin Guyette joins Wilmington red hot after four wins in his last four starts with Low-A Greenville.
The Rocks added Guyette from Low-A Greenville and sent a pair of right-handers to Double-A Portland (EL). Matt Goodson made his Double-A debut on Tuesday and went six innings to earn a win. Goodson allowed a single run on three hits (including a solo homer), one walk and four strikeouts. Luis Mendoza also went to Portland and will start for the Sea Dogs on Wednesday night at Bowie.
Matt Kent went 55 at-bats with only six hits and no homers before his two-run, two-out shot in the fifth inning on Tuesday night. Kent also threw out two would-be base stealers in four steal attempts on the night.
The Blue Rocks committed four errors in the win, one shy of the season-high mark.
Jeff Natale walked twice in the victory. Natale has reached base safely with a hit or a walk in all of his 13 games as a Blue Rock.
Tuesday's game marked the return of Association of Minor League Umpires men in blue to the field. The umpires union had been on strike since the start of the season. Mark Buchanan an David Warren, both fourth-year professional umpires, worked Tuesday's game. Both Buchanan (SAL) and Warren (MID) spent last season in Low-A.
DAMON'S GRILL PLAYER OF THE GAME: Wilmington LF Bryan Pritz: 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, R
Carolina League Stories from June 13, 2006
- Warthogs announce game time change - Winston-Salem Dash
- Warthogs win 8-5 over Frederick - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats have two selected to all-star team - Potomac Nationals
- Rocks rally from three down, win 7-4 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Pritz pushes Rocks past Nationals - Potomac Nationals
- K-Tribe catches Hillcats in the ninth - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Trevor Crowe is Carolina League Hitter of the week - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats Come to Kinston for a Three Game Series - Kinston Indians
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