CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Shut Out For The Second Time In Three Games

Published on April 20, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Tuesday night's contest between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Kinston Indians had the early feel of a pitchers' duel. Through three innings the teams had just a single hit each, and nary a run. But the much-maligned Kinston offense finally ignited for four runs in the fourth, and the Wilmington bats never made any noise, as the Blue Crew dropped a 4-0 decision at Frawley Stadium.

Wilmington starter Tim Melville was done in primarily by a lack of control in the fourth. The right-hander did allow four hits in the frame, but walks ultimately ended his outing prematurely.

Kinston second baseman Jason Kipnis opened the frame with a single, and one out later Abner Abreu drove a Melville pitch off the base of the wall in left, for a double. With runners at second and third Wilmington elected to bring its infield in, and Kyle Bellows took full advantage.

The third baseman sent a liner past Wilmington first baseman Eric Hosmer into right field for a two-run single. From there the bottom collapsed from under Melville.

He surrendered a line-drive single by Roman Pena, the first baseman's first hit of the season, and then walked Cristo Arnal to load the bases with one out.

After fanning Adam Davis, Melville lost command of the strike zone as he issued consecutive free passes with the bags full, forcing in a pair of runs, and putting the Blue Rocks deficit at 4-0.

The Rocks could only muster two threats the rest of the way. They loaded the bases against Kinston starter Nick Hagadone with two outs in the fifth. Walks by Ryan Wood and Patrick Norris as well as a double by Salvador Perez brought Adrian Ortiz to the plate with the sacks jammed.

Kinston manager Aaron Holbert went to his bullpen, calling on left-hander T.J. McFarland. The reliever made his skipper look like a genius as he induced a sharp grounder to second from Ortiz to end the frame.

McFarland (1-0) cruised his way to the eighth when Wilmington finally mounted one last mini-rally. The Rocks put two men on base courtesy of a walk and an error on McFarland, but came up empty when Jamar Walton whiffed with two down.

The Blue Crew managed to put just four men in scoring position all night.

Wilmington did have two positives to cling to in the loss. Perez finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate, and Patrick Keating and Barry Bowden were magnificent in relief of Melville.

Keating entered after Melville's second bases loaded walk in the fourth, and immediately escaped further damage, getting Kipnis to pop out. The right-hander then proceeded to fan six batters and allow only two hits in his 3.1 innings pitched. Bowden retired all six Kinston batters he faced, and struck out the side in the ninth.

Wilmington's bullpen has not allowed a run over its last 9.2 frames of work. They have fanned 16 batters over that stretch.

Wilmington will host Kinston again on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. ET. Chris Dwyer (0-1, 5.63) takes the hill for the Blue Rocks against K-Tribe right-hander Alex White (1-1, 0.00).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Eric Hosmer saw his season-opening 11-game hitting streak come to a close on Tuesday night. The first baseman went 0-for-3 with a walk, bouncing into a fielder's choice in his last at-bat in the eighth. Hosmer hit a blistering .447 during the streak.

Wilmington was shut out for the second time in 2010, but also for the second time in three days. The Rocks have posted goose eggs in 25 of their last 27 innings.

Wilmington finished the evening with only three hits. It marked the fifth time this season the Rocks have posted four or fewer knocks in a game.

Kinston starter Nick Hagadone came just one out shy of earning the second win of his three-plus year professional career. In 92.1 career innings pitched the southpaw has an ERA of under two, but his lone victory came in 2008.

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Carolina League Stories from April 20, 2010


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