CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks take one on the chin in Potomac

Published on September 9, 2004 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Woodbridge, VA--- The Potomac Cannons routed the Wilmington Blue Rocks, 14-6, on Thursday night to even the best-of-three Northern Division Championship series at a game apiece. The third and decisive game to determine the 2004 Northern Division champions will be played on Friday night at Pfitzner Stadium.

Potomac came to the plate in the third inning with a 3-2 advantage and broke the game open with an 11-run inning against losing pitcher Jason Kaanoi (0-1) and reliever John Gragg.

Kaanoi went 2.1 innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. He walked one and struck out none one. The 22-year-old exited with Potomac up, 5-2, and with two runners on base.

John Gragg entered and allowed a three-run home run to Potomac's Mark Schramek, which gave the Cannons an 8-2 advantage.

Gragg allowed a second three-run home run later in the inning and then after hitting Chad Durham, he was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Charlie Carillo.

In the third inning, the Cannons sent 15 hitters to the plate and they scored 11 runs on eight hits.

Wilmington scored two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth inning to cap off the scoring against winning pitcher Eddy Valdez (1-0).

Valdez went five innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Kyle Edens was impressive out of the bullpen, allowing one hit and striking out four over three innings of work.

Wilmington loaded the bases in the ninth inning against Chuy Mendoza, but left three runners on base when Travis Chapman struck out to end the game.

After Potomac took a 1-0 lead in the first, Wilmington came back and took a 2-1 advantage in the second against Valdez on a two-out, two-run home run by Adam Keim.

Potomac scored two runs, both with two outs, in the bottom of the second inning. Hector Tiburcio reached on a two-out infield single and Chad Durham scored the tying run on a throwing error by Mitch Maier.

Tiburcio scored the go-ahead run on a single by Junior Ruiz, which gave the Cannons a 3-2 advantage after two innings.

The Rocks send Devon Lowery (9-9, 3.66) to the hill in the final game of the series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Cannons counter with Ricardo Aramboles (4-10, 5.21).

Game Notes:

The victory on Thursday night was the first postseason win for the Prince William/Potomac franchise since September of 1998. The Prince William Yankees defeated the Durham Bulls.

The Rocks used six pitchers on Thursday night.

Mike Aviles went 3-for-3 with two runs scored in the loss. Aviles is 5-for-7 with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored over the first two games of the series.

Carillo ejected Keim in the eighth inning after he was called out on strikes. Keim went 2-for-4 on the night with three RBI.

The Cannons had at least one hit in every inning and 18 for the game. Matt Logan went 3-for-5 with four RBI. Ruiz Kevin Howard, and Hector Tiburcio also had three hits each.

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Carolina League Stories from September 9, 2004


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