CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Rally Thanks to Four-Run Eighth Inning

Published on May 29, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Fayetteville, NC - A four-run eighth inning helped the Wilmington Blue Rocks start their road trip in style on Wednesday, with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at Segra Stadium. The Rocks maintained their six-game lead in the Carolina League Northern Division and lowered their magic number for a first-half title to 13 with 17 contests remaining. The Blue Crew are now a season-high 14 games above .500.

Wilmington's offense, which had been completely lifeless en route to a 3-0 deficit through the first seven innings, suddenly sprang to life in the top of the eighth. Dennicher Carrasco opened the frame with a walk and MJ Melendez followed with a single. After Seuly Matias struck out, Cristian Perez hit a grounder to third, which Colton Shaver booted to load the bases. Ricky Aracena then got the Blue Crew on the board with a double to left that plated a pair and put both the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

Brewer Hicklen made sure they weren't stuck there. With two down in the inning, the outfielder put Wilmington ahead to stay with a two-run single to left.

Jackson Kowar settled in after a rocky start to produce a quality outing and earn the win. The lefty yielded a two-run homer from Shaver in the first, but allowed just one more run the rest of his night. He finished after seven frames, with five strikeouts and no walks. Robert Garcia held the lead with a scoreless eighth and then Tyler Zuber retired the side in order in the ninth to nail down his ninth save.

The Blue Crew continue their seven-game road trip at Fayetteville on Thursday. Left-hander Marcelo martinez takes the mound for Wilmington as first pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action with the Voice of the Blue Rocks, Cory Nidoh on 89.7 WGLS-FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Wilmington has now faced every team in the Carolina League in 2019. The Rocks completed their trip through the circuit on Wednesday with the franchise's first ever meeting with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The Woodpeckers are in their first year after playing the previous two seasons as the Buies Creek Astros. Segra Stadium also marked the seventh of nine road ballparks Wilmington has visited this season, with only Down East's Historic Grainger Stadium and Myrtle Beach's TicketReturn.com Field remaining. The Blue Crew have a winning record at every stop they've made, except for Frederick where the Blue Crew are 2-2.

Wilmington has excelled in close contests this season. The Blue Crew lead the Carolina League with 24 games decided by a single score in 2019 and have played 34 affairs with a margin of victory of two-or-less. The Rocks are an impressive 26-8 in those close calls including 20-4 in one-run decisions. They are also stellar at holding late leads, going 19-1 when taking an advantage into the eighth inning and 21-0 when leading after eight.

The Blue Rocks have taken a weird path offensively to first place in the CL North standings for 45 of the first 55 days of the 2019 season. Wilmington was out-hit on Wednesday. The Rocks have produced fewer hits than their foe in 17 of the team's 33 victories this season. They also have finished with five hits or less 25 times on the year, yet have won 13 of those affairs. Overall, the Blue Crew are last in the CL in runs, hits, batting average slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 29, 2019


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