CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Win Third in a Row

Published on May 14, 2003 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC--- The Wilmington Blue Rocks won their third in a row and moved to 10 games above .500 for the first time this season with a 2-1 win over the Kinston Indians on Wednesday night.

The Rocks win combined with Winston-Salem's 4-1 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Ernie Shore Field moves Wilmington's lead in the Northern Division to a game and a half.

Zack Greinke (6-0) went eight innings for the first time in his professional career and became the Carolina League's first six-game winner this season with the win.

Greinke, who retired 11 in a row to start, went eight innings and allowed one earned run on three hits. The 19-year-old fanned seven for the second time this season and walked no one.

Kinston took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a two-out, solo home run by Brian Kirby. Greinke came back and retired the next eight batters before allowing a double to Kirby in the eighth inning.

The Rocks tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh inning against Kinston starter J.D. Martin. The 20-year-old was removed from the game after allowing a leadoff double to Trey Dyson.

Scott Sturkie entered the game and allowed the tying run to score from third base on a wild pitch that allowed Dyson to score and Tony Arnerich to reach on a walk.

The run was charged to Martin, who allowed one earned run over six-plus innings. Martin walked one and did not record a strikeout. He picked up a no-decision.

Greinke helped his own cause and escaped a sticky situation in the eighth inning. After the double by Kirby, Armando Camacaro struck out and reached on a wild pitch, allowing Kirby to move to third base.

Ivan Ochoa attempted a squeeze play, but bunted the ball right back to Greinke, who shoveled the ball with his glove to Scott Walter the plate with to retire Kirby for the second out of the inning. Greinke got the final out on a fly ball to left field.

In the ninth inning, Dyson led off with his fourth hit of the game, a single to centerfield against losing pitcher Marcos Mendoza (0-1). Dyson scored the eventual winning run on a double off the leftfield wall by Justin Cowan.

After taking the lead in the top of the ninth inning, Jorge Vasquez worked a scoreless ninth inning and left the tying run on second to record his team-leading seventh save of the season.

The Rocks conclude their four-game series in Kinston on Thursday night, looking for their first four-game series sweep of the season. Kyle Middleton (5-1, 1.55) goes to the hill for his eighth start of the season and his first against Kinston.

The Indians look to avoid the series sweep by sending Brian Slocum (2-3, 4.05). Slocum makes his eighth start of the season and his first against Wilmington.

Game Notes: The Blue Rocks improved to 7-6 this season in one-run games with Wednesday night's win.

Dyson's four-hit night was his third of the season. He has hit safely in four in a row.

Scott Walter went 1-for-4 on Wednesday night and has hit safely in five in a row and seven of his last eight games.

The Blue Rocks have won five in a row on the road for the second time this season and improved to 13-7 away from home this season on Wednesday.

The Blue Rocks starters have gone 15-2 with a 1.95 ERA over the last 26 games. The Rocks have gone 20-6 over that same 26 game stretch.

The Blue Rocks have won four of the six meetings with Kinston this season.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 14, 2003


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