CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Shutout win snaps skid

Published on May 8, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Frederick, MD - After suffering three shutout losses over a four-game losing streak, it was fitting that the Wilmington Blue Rocks (13-15) broke their slide with a blanking of the Frederick Keys (10-18) on Friday night, 3-0. Starter Danny Duffy (4-1) earned his team-leading fourth win with 6.1 innings of shutout ball. He allowed just three baserunners on three hits, all singles, and struck out a career-best nine. Former CL Pitcher of the Year Rowdy Hardy made his 2009 debut thereafter with 1.2 scoreless bridge innings, and closer Aaron Hartsock bolted down his team-leading fifth save in logging a scoreless ninth. Derrick Robinson had two hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases, tying Sergio Nunez for the most in franchise history (77).

For those who love pitching, it proved to be a game to remember. While Duffy retired 19 of the 22 men he faced, Frederick's Brian Matusz (2-2) struck out a jaw-dropping 13 and at one point retired 15 consecutive Blue Rocks batters. But the worst defense in the loop let the fourth overall choice from last year's draft down in a critical second inning.

David Lough began the frame with a solid single to right. Clint Robinson, not a speedy runner, followed with a groundball to second base tailor-made for a double play. Second baseman Ryan Adams, who set a South Atlantic League record with 52 errors last season, actually made the routine glove and flip to second, but shortstop covering Rodolfo Cardona errantly missed the catch as the ball caromed off his glove and both runners arrived safely. Two batters later, catcher Ryan Eigsti worked a full-count walk to load the bases and Adrian Ortiz delivered.

The speedster connected on a seeing-eye single that just found the right-side hole for a base hit as every man moved up a base and the Blue Rocks took a 1-0 lead. Derrick Robinson followed and bounced a single over the head of a drawn-in Brandon Waring at third base. Again, every man advanced a sack, and the Blue Crew led, 2-0.

Matusz would recover, promptly striking out both Johnny Giavotella and Mike Moustakas swinging en route to setting down 15 straight batters. Eigsti broke the streak with a one-out single in the seventh, but Matusz stranded a couple of runners that frame.

The off-speed specialist sparkled with a heavy diet of curve, slider and changeup blending with an occasional fastball over seven innings. But the Blue Rocks had done enough offensively and Wilmington pitching would prove the story of the night.

Duffy allowed a one-out single to Chris Vinyard in the seventh before being lifted in favor of Hardy, who sported a brand new submarine-style delivery that he began just one week into Spring Training. It marked the first game action for the franchise's single-season wins leader since the alteration. Hardy induced a groundout, issued a full-count walk and wrapped up the inning with an alert snapping snare of a hard comeback liner off the bat of Waring. He faced the minimum in a scoreless eighth as Eigsti caught a man stealing.

Another error gave Wilmington an insurance run in the ninth. With two outs, Ortiz hit a quite playable fly ball to the warning track in right center. Converted third baseman Billy Rowell arrived to make the play but clean missed an easy catch for a two-base error. Derrick Robinson then singled up the middle, scoring Ortiz for a 3-0 lead. The speedster stole both second and third while Giavotella batted, giving him a league-best 14 on the year and 77 on his career to tie Nunez for the franchise's career stolen base record.

Hartsock allowed a lead-off single in the ninth, but retired the next three men in order including a strikeout swinging against Rowell, who chased a full-count rising fastball.

Game two of the three-game weekend set will pit a pair of right-handers against each other. Wilmington's Eduardo Paulino (1-0, 5.63) will oppose prospect Pedro Beato (1-3, 4.74). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Blue Rocks have gone a season-best four straight games without committing an error.

Catcher Ryan Eigsti now leads the league with 15 men caught stealing in 31 such attempts. He leads in both number of men caught and efficiency (.484).

Adrian Ortiz's run-scoring single in the second inning snapped Wilmington's season-worst scoreless stretch at 18.2 innings.

The 2009 Blue Rocks saw the wrong side of five total shutout scores before notching their first such triumph on Friday night.

All of the game's 13 total base hits were singles.

Eight of the nine Blue Rocks in the order struck out at least once. Only Derrick Robinson evaded a scorecard "K". Mike Moustakas, Jeff Bianchi and Clint Robinson each struck out three times.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 8, 2009


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