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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Routed for Fifth Straight Setback

June 6, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks' offensive woes continued on Monday night, and the Kinston Indians enjoyed no such problem in an 11-1 rout at Frawley Stadium. The Rocks have now dropped five consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 to fall 5.5 games behind first-place Frederick in the Carolina League Northern Division standings.

Kinston earned the wire-to-wire victory by pummeling Wilmington starter Tyler Sample. Sample (3-4) lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits while walking a pair. Every Kinston starter had at least one hit, and all but Bo Greenwell had an extra-base knock.

Chase Burnette led the way for the K-Tribe, going 4-for-5 with a triple, four runs batted in and two runs scored. Roberto Perez added three hits, an RBI and a tally before exiting the game in the sixth with an injury. The result was Sample's shortest start of the season in a game not delayed by rain.

Kinston scored a run in the fourth on an errant Sample pickoff throw. The Indians added four more in the second before an out had been recorded. After getting stymied in the third, the K-Tribe plated one run in the fourth, added three more in the sixth, and capped their offensive onslaught with single tallies in the sixth and seventh. Kinston sent eight men to the plate in the second and batted around in the fifth.

Meanwhile, Wilmington's offense never found a spark. The Rocks finished the evening with just four hits. They recorded their only run on a wild pitch. Heralded prospect Drew Pomeranz (2-1), Cleveland's fourth-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, got the win by going five-plus solid frames. The left-hander walked four, but also fanned five and allowed only a single score on two hits. Marty Popham and Joey Mahalic each tossed two scoreless innings of relief to nail down the lopsided win.

The series continues on Tuesday as Wilmington looks to end its losing streak with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Frawley Stadium. The newly formed piggyback duo of Jake Odorizzi (4-0, 2.05) and Michael Mariot (5-0, 2.36) hit the hill for Wilmington against Kinston right-hander Brett Bach (4-3, 3.08). Broadcast coverage begins at 6:35 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.

It is a Tworrific Tuesday at Frawley Stadium, which means fans can get two box seats, two hot dogs, two sodas and two baseballs for only $26. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Alex McClure continued to show some signs of life at the plate. One night after he broke out of a 3-for-29 funk with a two-hit afternoon, McClure reached twice on a single and a walk. He also scored the Rocks' only run of the game.

Whit Merrifield's offensive misery continued on Monday. The outfielder went 0-for-3. Over the last 10 games he is a paltry 1-for-32 at the plate. The only silver lining is he did draw a free pass for the second straight night.

Tyler Sample's first-inning error on an errant pickoff attempt led to an unearned run. It marked the fifth consecutive game that Wilmington has committed at least one defensive miscue. The Rocks are now just one contest shy of their season-long streak of six straight games with an error from May 2-7.

Wilmington has not recorded double-digit hits in a game since May 21. During that 15-game run it has scored three runs only three times.

In the last 11 games the Rocks have managed only one win thanks to an offense that has registered a meager 18 runs. Over that span Wilmington is hitting a collective .166 (58-for-350).

The 11-1 setback equaled the most runs allowed by Wilmington pitching in a game this season. The only other time Wilmington surrendered 11 scores in a contest, it also lost by 10 tallies. The May 3 setback to Lynchburg ties Monday's drubbing for the Rocks' most lopsided loss of 2011.

After winning the first four games of the season against Kinston by the combined score of 18-11, Wilmington has dropped five of the last six meetings with the K-Tribe. The Rocks have scored two runs or fewer five times over that span.

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2011


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