CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Swat Nats

Published on July 13, 2007 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Dan Cortes struck out eight batters in six innings and the Wilmington Blue Rocks offense rebounded from a sluggish performance the previous night with a 7-5 victory over the Potomac Nationals at Frawley Stadium on Friday evening. Cortes (2-6) tied his own personal season-high as well as the team's single-game high in strikeouts, while allowing two runs on four hits with just one walk to win for the second time in his last three outings. Meanwhile, the Rocks doubled up the P-Nats in the hits column, 12-6, led by Miguel Vega's two hits and two RBIs. Newest Blue Rock Jeremy Cleveland also chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI in his third game with the club. Thanks to the triumph, Wilmington (15-6) once again stretches its lead to four games over the second-place Nationals in the Carolina League's Northern Division standings.

Cortes fanned two batters apiece in each of the first four innings, facing just one over the minimum through the first three frames. Chris Marrero's two-out single in the fourth was the first base hit allowed by the 20-year-old Pomona, CA native. His only rocky inning was the fifth, when Potomac rallied for a pair of runs on three hits to shave Wilmington's 5-0 lead down to 5-2. However, Cortes bounced back with a scoreless sixth, retiring the side in order and leaving the game on a high note.

While Cortes impressed the fans from the hill, the Wilmington bats put on their own display at the dish. A night after succumbing to the Nationals staff with a two-run, seven-hit effort, the Blue Rocks plated a run each in the first and the third inning. The Rocks used a throwing error by Potomac starter Justin Jones to score Jose Duarte from second base in the first and Marc Maddox singled home a run in the third, giving Wilmington a 2-0 lead.

But, the fourth inning is when the Rocks really started rolling. Brian McFall and Cleveland led off the frame with consecutive singles against Jones (4-5), creating a first and third scenario with none out. Vega subsequently broke the game open, chasing both men home with a sharp line-drive double into the left field corner, pushing the Blue Crew's advantage to 4-0. Josh Johnson's single through a drawn-in infield two batters later plated Vega with the third run of the inning and the fifth of the game for the Rocks.

In the top of the eighth, Rayner Oliveros - beginning his second inning of work - yielded a leadoff triple to former Royals farmhand Brandon Powell. Justin Maxwell pushed Powell across with a sac fly in the following at-bat, drawing the P-Nats to within two runs at 5-3.

But, the Blue Rocks gained a pair of valuable insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, as McFall delivered an RBI triple to right-center field and a Cleveland double provided another run, granting the Rocks a four-run cushion.

Wilmington would need the extra padding, as Justin Barnes faltered in the ninth, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks while recording just two outs. But, Russ Haltiwanger entered and needed one pitch to retire Powell on a fly ball to left, notching his fourth save of the season.

The four-game series between the Blue Rocks and Nationals wraps up tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m., as Wilmington sends All-Star southpaw Rowdy Hardy (11-2, 1.98) to the mound to oppose Potomac prospect right-hander Craig Stammen (6-5, 4.35).

GAME NOTES: Five different Blue Rocks batters registered two-hit nights as part of the 12-hit barrage. Jose Duarte, Brian McFall, Jeremy Cleveland, Miguel Vega, and Josh Johnson all turned the trick for Wilmington on the night.

With another solid outing, Dan Cortes is now 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander has struck out 21 batters and walked only four during the impressive span.

Cortes twice previously this season posted eight strikeouts in an outing. The last such instance occurred on May 22nd, also versus Potomac. Cortes' career-high of nine strikeouts in a game was posted August 6, 2006 as a member of the Burlington Bees, the Royals' Low-A affiliate.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from July 13, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central