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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Take Two from Salem

August 20, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - As the old saying goes, 'there's no place like home.'

After getting swept in Frederick earlier in the week, and then enduring back-to-back rainouts at the beginning of this homestand, the Wilmington Blue Rocks got out brooms of their own at Frawley Stadium on Saturday night.

The Blue Crew swept a doubleheader with the Salem Red Sox, taking game one, 3-2, and then winning the nightcap, 6-2.

The Rocks were victorious in the opener thanks in large part to a three-spot in the third inning.

Jared Dyer

got the Wilmington rally started with a one-out double.

Michael Liberto

followed with an RBI single to left that gave the Blue Crew a 1-0 advantage.

Whit Merrifield

kept the momentum going by working a full-count free pass off Salem starter Chris Hernandez (10-6) to put runners at first and second.

Carlo Testa

brought them both home with his single to right.

The knock drove in Liberto, and right fielder Bryce Brentz's throwing error on the play plated Merrifield.

From there, the Rocks held on for dear life.

Wilmington starter Michael Mariot

repeatedly worked his way out of tight spots.

The right-hander allowed a base runner in all five of his frames on the mound and stranded a runner on base in four of those innings.

Mariot (8-3) left a man at second in both the second and third innings, used a double play to get out of the fourth and stranded runners at the corners in his last inning on the mound.

The Sox did get an unearned run against Mariot in the fifth.

Consecutive one-out singles coupled with a Wilmington throwing error set up Delaware native Derrik Gibson's RBI grounder in the fifth.

Mariot gave way to his bullpen in the sixth as Jon Keck

entered the contest.

The lefty reliever

allowed a lead-off single to Bryce Brentz, but erased him from the base paths with a double-play grounder.

He then yielded three straight singles, but got some help from his defense to limit damage.

Shannon Wilkerson singled to right with two men on.

The hit scored a run, but Nick Van Stratten

kept Wilmington in front by gunning down Alex Valdez at third base.

Bryan Paukovits

entered in the seventh and worked around a one-out walk by inducing a game-ending 6-4-3 twin-killing.

The effort was good for Paukovits' sixth save of the season.

Wilmington jumped all over the Red Sox with a three-run first inning in game two.

The Rocks used three extra-base hits to do their damage.

Merrifield got the festivities underway with a single up the middle.

Testa moved him to third with his ensuing double to right.

After Van Stratten made the first out, Whittleman picked him up with a two-run double.

The third baseman would eventually score on a throwing error by shortstop Heiker Meneses.

Julio Rodriguez

tried to make it a four-run first when he sent a two-out double to right, but Yem Prades

was thrown out trying to score from first.

Whittleman extended Wilmington's lead to 4-0 two frames later.

The slugger bombed a home run over both levels of signage in right field to begin the third.

He finished the nightcap with three runs batted in.

The early offense was more than enough for Tim Melville (9-9) who allowed just two Salem scores (one earned) in strong innings pitched.

The right-hander fanned seven and walked only one on his way to the win.

Wilmington's offense added two more tallies late.

Deivy Batista singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the fourth, while Testa added an RBI single with two down in the sixth.

The Rocks and Sox will square off in another doubleheader at Frawley Stadium on Sunday.

First pitch of the opener is slated for 12:35 p.m. as Wilmington will send southpaw Justin Marks (7-8, 4.32) to the mound against Red Sox righty Ryan Pressly (6-9, 4.36).

Elisaul Pimentel (5-7, 3.80) hits the hill for the Blue Crew in the nightcap.

Salem has yet to announce his counterpart.

Broadcast coverage begins at 12:05 p.m. as 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.

For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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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.

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