CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

See-Saw Battle Tips To Host, Rocks Lose 14-13

Published on April 26, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Winston-Salem, NC - Winston-Salem's home ballpark has long been judged the most hitter friendly in the pitching-oriented Carolina League. Some observers of the circuit forecasted an increase in offense when Wake Forest University took over the park and lowered most of the outfield fence from 16 feet to eight feet. On Saturday night, the league saw what could happen. The Blue Rocks (9-8) lost a see-saw battle to the host Dash (8-9), 14-13, in a game that sported a Blue Rocks franchise record 37 combined base hits. The Rocks lost three separate leads on the game and stranded the tying run at third base in the ninth for their fourth loss in five games.

Run-scoring hits by Mike Moustakas and Clint Robinson gave the Blue Crew a 2-0 first-inning lead. Few would foresee what would happen in the bottom half of the inning. A combination of defensive miscues, a taut strike zone and timely Winston-Salem hitting resulted in an eye-popping eight runs. Spot starter Jason Godin recorded only two outs and faced the entire order plus two batters before getting lifted in favor of Chris Chavez. A bases-clearing, three-run double by Greg Paiml threaded just fair inside of third base proved the chasing blow. Only two of the eight scores were earned on Godin's line.

A gutsy group of Blue Rocks would rally in unison, rattling off seven unanswered scores to take the lead back. A Derrick Robinson single and a couple of Winston-Salem errors produced a three-run second inning. Jamar Walton's RBI single, Ryan Eigsti's sacrifice fly and consecutive wild pitches by starter Matt Long added up to a three-run third. Wilmington took the lead in the fourth on back-to-back two-out hits from Clint Robinson and David Lough.

But the host Dash, as it did all night, responded immediately. All nine men batted and three scored against Chavez in the home fourth. Dale Mollenhauer's two-run double highlighted the scoring. The very next half inning, a two-spot by the Blue Rocks forged a tie. Derrick Robinson doubled home the first score, and crossed the plate himself on a Jeff Bianchi single to center for an 11-11 deadlock.

Things looked rosy in the eighth. Moustakas slammed his team-leading fourth home run to center and Paulo Orlando tripled in an insurance run three batters later. Alas, Winston-Salem had yet another response in wait. Logan Johnson doubled against hard-throwing lefty Brandon Sisk (0-1) to start the bottom of the eighth. After a groundout and a strikeout, back-to-back walks loaded the bases, including a full-count free pass to Jimmy Gallagher. On the very next pitch, Salvador Sanchez pushed all three men home with a double to center, creating the 14-13 score that would go final.

Anthony Seratelli doubled with one down in the ninth and stole third on closer Santo Luis. But Derrick Robinson flied out to left and Bianchi struck out swinging as Luis picked up his second save. Henry Mabee (2-0) earned a fortunate win despite allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over two innings.

The four-game series concludes on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Prospect southpaw Danny Duffy (2-0, 2.30) gets the ball against repeating right-hander Anthony Carter (1-1, 4.50).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The previous record for combined hits in a Blue Rocks game was 35, done twice. It happened most recently on June 9, 2004 in an 18-12 win versus Kinston. That game still marks the most combined runs ever scored in a Blue Rocks game.

David Lough picked up two outfield assists in the game, with both coming in the fifth inning. He gunned down Brent Morel trying to go first to third on a Seth Loman single, then cut down Loman at home plate after a Dale Mollenhauer single to end the inning.

Paulo Orlando also threw out a man from the outfield. A base-running mistake by the Dash had three runners between the second and third base bags on a Mollenhauer double. Orlando's throw to third base got the lead runner, Salvador Sanchez.

The Blue Rocks are now 2-4 in one-run games and 0-5 when trailing after eight innings.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from April 26, 2009


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