CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Seventh Inning Sends Blue Crew to Third Straight Loss

Published on April 25, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


SALEM, VA- Hoping to steal a win in the final game of its eight-game roadtrip, the Wilmington Blue Rocks took an early lead, but fell apart in the later innings, as the Salem Red Sox came away with a 7-3 victory on Thursday night at LewisGale Field. Ahead 3-0 after three frames, the Red Sox scored seven unanswered runs en route to their 10th win of the campaign. The loss drops Wilmington to 9-11, while it marks the second-straight series loss for Vance Wilson's club.

With John Lamb scratched prior to the Thursday's start, the Blue Crew needed to get nine innings from its bullpen. Spencer Patton, perhaps the team's hottest relief arm, got the start, and tossed two scoreless innings to open the contest. In the third, he would get some support from his offense. Justin Trapp opened the frame with a single, stole second, and later scored on an RBI base knock by Cheslor Cuthbert. Later in the frame, Lane Adams got in the mix. Off his fourth-straight two-hit game the night before, Wilmington's centerfielder plated Jorge Bonifacio and Cuthbert to make it 3-0.

After Salem tallied its first run off Patton in the fourth, the home team evened the score two innings later. Facing Cody Fassold (2-3), Brandon Jacobs singled to give the Red Sox its first base runner. A throwing error by Fassold then allowed Jacobs to move to second, before a fielder's choice coupled with a walk put men at the corners. With opportunity knocking, Matty Johnson answered, singling home a pair of runs to strip Wilmington of its lead.

In the seventh, the Red Sox solidified their hold on the game. Sean Coyle homered for the second time in as many nights to give Salem its first lead, and a Garin Cecchini added an RBI single to bring Fassold's night to close. Against Robinson Yambati, the Sox added two more runs on a single by Keury De La Cruz and a triple by Blake Swihart to give Salem its largest advantage of the game at 7-3.

Down to their final six outs, the Blue Rocks failed to muster anything off reliever Matt Price, who worked the final two innings and did not allow a hit. Price took the baton from a very effective Mike Augliera (3-0), who earned his third win (tied for CL lead). Over seven innings, the right-hander held the Blue Crew to three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out six.

The Blue Rocks return to the First State on Friday night, to begin a seven-game homestand. First on the docket is the Winston-Salem Dash, who took three out of four when the two teams met in the Triad last weekend. Kyle Smith (0-1, 1.35) goes for his first Carolina League win and will be opposed by Dash righty Justin Collop (1-2, 3.00). For ticket information call 302-888-BLUE or visit Bluerocks.com

Pebbles of Knowledge:

Two streaks came to an end on Thursday night. Needing one hit to equal the team's longest hitting streak of the year (eight games), Jorge Bonifacio went 0-for-3 to bring his hit streak to close at seven games. Still, Bonifacio was a monster during the eight game roadtrip, hitting an eye-popping .413 (12-29, 3B, 4-2B, 6RBI, 3R) over eight contests. Lane Adams also saw his streak of consecutive multi-hit games end at four. After posting four straight two-hit games, and clubbing at least one double in each of those games, Adams finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.

After Spencer Patton had not allowed a hit to a right-handed batter through his first 15.1 IP, the streak finally ended in the fourth inning on Thursday. Facing Brandon Jacobs, Patton gave up an opposite field single to bring the impressive streak to a close. That hit remains the only one recorded by a righty hitter off Patton this year. As a group, righty swingers are hitting .040 (1-25, 13K) against him. Meanwhile LHP Antonio Cruz has still not allowed a hit to a lefty hitter (0-22, 8K).

Thursday wrapped up a tough roadtrip for the Blue Crew, who went 2-6 over eight-games against Winston-Salem and Salem. After Wilmington hit the road with a mark of two games over .500 (7-5), the Blue Rocks return to the Riverfront two games under .500 (9-11). During the time away from Frawley Stadium, the club earned the dubious distinction of tying its longest losing streak twice (three), while Thursday marked the team's largest fall-from-ahead loss of 2013 (up three runs). Wilmington will try and pull within a game of .500 on Friday night when the team welcomes Winston-Salem to town.

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