CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Slam Door on the Mudcats

Published on June 6, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


WILMINGTON, DE- In a game that was rainy, and took in excess of three hours, the Wilmington Blue Rocks still got plenty of production from their bats, as Vance Wilson's team defeated the Carolina Mudcats 6-3 on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium. Scoring four runs over the first two innings, the victory helped the Blue Rocks move back to two games over .500 (31-29). Wilmington also wrapped up its homestand with a 4-3 mark, and earned its third series victory over Carolina.

Making his second start of the season, Tyler Sample needed 26 pitches to work out of the first inning, but did not allow any runs to score. His counterpart Cody Anderson (5-3) on the other hand, was not so fortunate. Coming into the contest with the fifth-best ERA in the Carolina League, Anderson allowed a lead-off double to Justin Trapp, who scored two batters later on a successful double steal with teammate Jack Lopez. A walk to Lane Adams followed, before the Oklahoma native swiped second himself to put two men in scoring position for Daniel Mateo. Hot all series, Mateo stayed that way, singling home Lopez, while Geulin Beltre drove in Adams on another base knock to make it 3-0 Blue Rocks.

In the second, the home team added some insurance. This time Kenny Swab opened the inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another double by Adams. Anderson would only make it through one more frame for the Mudcats, allowing four runs (three earned) on two walks and five strikeouts.

Effectively wild, Sample went the first four innings allowing only one hit, but was forced to leave after reaching his pitch limit. Taking the baton, Malcom Culver (2-3) worked into the seventh, before the Mudcats cracked the goose egg. After allowing a two-out single to Francisco Lindor, Antonio Cruz was summoned from the bullpen. He issued a walk and a wild pitch, setting up Jerrud Sabourin, who pushed an RBI single the opposite way.

With their lead down to three, the Rocks recovered the runs in the home-half of the inning. Battling command issues, Carolina righty Michael Goodnight got the first two outs, but proceeded to load the bases on a hit-by-pitch, walk and a single. Mateo responded with an RBI base-hit, before a single and a walk forced in the sixth run of the game.

Fighting until the end, the Mudcats added three more runs in the ninth against Cruz, but the lefty calmed down, getting a groundball, flyout, and strike out to finish the game. Culver picked up his first win since May 11, striking out a season-high five and allowing only one run over 2.2 innings.

Wilmington begins a three-game series against Winston-Salem on Friday night in the Triad. Right-hander Kyle Zimmer (0-5, 5.54) takes the hill for the Blue Crew and will be opposed by Dash righty Chris Beck (5-6, 3.19). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and the broadcast can be heard on 89.7 WGLS-FM, or on Bluerocks.com. The Rocks conclude their first-half home schedule starting on June 13 against Winston-Salem For ticket information, call 302-888-BLUE or visit Bluerocks.com.

Pebbles of Knowledge:

Cheslor Cuthbert finished off a strong homestand, going 1-3 with a run scored. He also added his 19th double of the campaign, and is now tied for the league lead with Salem's Keury De La Cruz. Even more impressive, 15 of Cuthbert's two-baggers have come over his last 27 games. Not just a power threat, Cuthbert has also posted a .500 batting average (10-20) over his last six games, recording four doubles, two triples, four runs and an RBI.

Lane Adams continued to earn free passes on Thursday night, earning two more over the course of five plate appearances. Now with 30 on the season, Adams is tied for fifth in the Carolina League in that category, while he has walked at least one time in five of his last six games. Through 57 games, Adams has also surpassed his total number of walks from 2012 with the Blue Rocks, when he walked 21 times in 68 games.

Daniel Mateo capped off an excellent series against Carolina, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs on Thursday night. It was Mateo's second straight multi-hit game, and allowed him to extend his team RBI lead to 32, four better than his next closest competition Cheslor Cuthbert (28). Meanwhile, the Dominican native continued his tear against the Mudcats. In 13 games this year, Mateo is hitting .288 against Carolina, and has hit four of his six homers against the Mudcats.

In news potentially affecting the Blue Rocks later this season, the team's parent club, the Kansas City Royals, selected Hunter Dozier with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. A 6-foot-4, 220 lb shortstop from Stephen F. Austin, Dozier ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in doubles (22), home runs (14) and slugging percentage (.770), and has drawn comparisons to former MLB All-Star Jeff Kent. Should Dozier sign with Kansas City, he could be a candidate to join the Blue Rocks in the second-half.

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2013


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