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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Unable to Complete Sweep, Drop Series Finale 4-2

May 30, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The first two batters of the game for the Wilmington Blue Rocks (17-32) came around to score on Humberto Arteaga's two-run home run, but the offense went silent immediately afterwards, faltering in the series finale 4-2 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (27-23). The Rocks had won a season high three games in a row, but the Pellies scored four unanswered runs in the next eight frames to deny the Blue Crew a chance for the sweep.

Cody Jones was batting leadoff once again and proved his peskiness by dropping a bunt down and reaching to start the affair. Arteaga strolled to the plate immediately after, and with the pitcher's concentration directed towards Jones on first base, he smashed a two run dinger to centerfield for the early 2-0 lead. It was Arteaga's first home run in his last 78 games, having last cleared the fence back on July 29 of least season. However, the boys from Frawley could not make the lead stand.

The Pellies came right back in the bottom of the first inning and cut the lead in half when Gleyber Torres hit a solo bomb off of Rocks' starter Corey Ray. The Blue and White's advantage held until the bottom of the fourth inning when Trey Martin's single plated Jason Vosler who had doubled earlier in the frame. With the game tied at twos, the Rocks could not muster any offense in the fifth and Myrtle Beach took advantage in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the game.

It seemed like the boys from Frawley were going to maintain the tie score, but Ian Happ walked with two down and proceeded to steal second base. Yasiel Balaguert made the swipe hurt by singling up the middle and driving Happ in as the go-ahead run. The home squad once again used small ball in the eighth inning to provide some breathing room, executing a perfect squeeze bunt with a runner on third base and one out to push ahead 4-2. The Rocks tried to rally in the ninth, but did not get far, dropping the finale 4-2.

Trevor Clifton got the win for the Pelicans with six solid frames to improve to 3-3 while Ray got saddled with the loss and evens his record as well to 1-1. Ryan McNeil slammed the door down in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season. The Rocks get Tuesday off before starting a three game set against the Lynchburg Hillcats at home at Frawley Stadium. The Blue Crew will send LHP Matt Tenuta (2-3, 5.51) against the Hillcats' LHP Sean Brady (3-3, 4.44). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. and those interested in getting tickets to the game can contact the Blue Rocks ticket office at 302-888-BLUE. And for those interested in listening to the game can tune in to WGLS-FM 89.7 or go to BlueRocks.com for all the game action.

Pebbles of Knowledge

April was a month the Wilmington Blue Rocks would like to forget. They endured their second longest losing streak in franchise history by dropping a total of 12 games in-a-row at one point, but turned things around in May. The Rocks went 11-16 in the month and batted .242 after hitting just .231 in the opening month of play. They were helped along mostly by collecting extra base hits. The squad procured just 58 in April, but trumped that in the following month with 47 doubles, nine triples and seven long balls. In fact, every single offensive number improved in the month of May with the exception of stolen bases where they went 17-for-20 in April, but 17-for-31 in May.

Despite the loss, the Blue Crew still completed the seven-game road trip with a winning record, ending the journey at a 4-3 mark. Much of that winning record has to do with their ability to take down the Pellies, the only team in the Carolina League the Blue and White have a winning record against. Overall they are 6-2 against their South Carolinian counterparts and 3-1 at TicketReturn.com field. In the eight games against Myrtle Beach, Wilmington is batting .248, which is 12 points higher than their season average of .236. The arms though are the real reason why the wins have piled up against the Pelicans. The Rocks pitching staff sports an ERA more than two full runs lower than their season average, holding the Pellies down at a 2.25 clip as opposed to their 4.39 season mark.

Humberto Arteaga hit his first home run since July 15, 2015 at Winson-Salem, ending a 78 game drought for the shortstop. Arteaga added a single later in the game and finished the affair 2-for-4 with the homer and two RBI. The second-year Blue Crewer has been blistering hot as of late with hits in 15 of his last 17 games. Over that stretch Arteaga is batting .369 (24-for-65) with five extra base hits, nine RBI and seven runs scored.

Arteaga is not the only member of the Blue and White to be swinging a hot stick lately. Alfredo Escalera continues to tear it up from the right side of the plate. The native of Puerto Rico, who now calls Florida home, got off to a slow start to the season with a disappointing April, but much like the team has really turned things on in May. Escalera went 2-for-4 on the night and raised his average all the way up to .271, which leads all Blue Rocks starters. The outfielder was the only member of the Blue Crew besides Arteaga to hit over the .300 mark in May as Escalera finished the month batting .327 and Arteaga ended at .304. Escalera did contributed to the club in every way imaginable, collecting six doubles and a triple while driving in 15 in addition to stealing three bases and walking ten times, good enough for an on base percentage of .400 in the 31 days.

They Said It

Blue Rocks Manager Jamie Quirk

"We played very well (in Myrtle Beach) over the weekend. Three really good baseball games including a doubleheader sweep, which is hard to do at any level. We pitched well and we played great defense, did all of the little things at the plate. Then in this last game we just weren't as sharp. We got the homer early which was great, but then we couldn't really do anything else. We failed to move guys over and get guys in like we had the rest of the series. It's the little things that matter in close games and we didn't take care of the little things in this game."

"I think with (Humberto) Arteaga his focus and his preparation have really improved here lately. He knows how to get himself ready and he's been going about it the right way. But then I also think he's seen some guys get promoted in front of him and he wants to step his game up. Competition is always a wonderful thing in this sport. It's the ultimate motivator. He sees guys that he played with just last year in Triple-A and he wants to do something about that, which is nice to see that competitive fire."

"The bullpen really has been clutch for us for a while now. Those guys have been helping us stay in games, and have been coming through in some tight spots. Those late-in ninth runs make it tough to catch up but they've been throwing zeroes up there lately which gives our offense hope and leads to rallies...But the bullpen is getting into a rhythm and getting confidence and it's also gotten some new faces down there which has helped as well."

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