CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Teaford's Solid Outing Leads Wilmington to Victory

Published on May 13, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - What if Everett Teaford actually had his good stuff on Wednesday night? The left-hander pitched 6.1 sparkling innings and surrendered only one run, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks beat the Kinston Indians 3-2 at Frawley Stadium. All of that, despite struggling to locate his changeup and curveball, throughout much of the outing.

Teaford's gutsy performance allowed the Rocks to pick up their second consecutive win, and move back to within two games of .500 for the season.

Wilmington's co-Pitcher of the Month for April, failed to record a strikeout for the first time all year. Teaford's previous low for punch outs in a game was four. It came in his last start against Salem on May 7.

But he somehow managed to keep the Indians' bats silent through the first six frames. In fact, entering the seventh, Teaford had allowed only two hits and four base runners. With his team ahead by three runs though, Teaford began to tire, and allowed three straight singles to open the visiting seventh. When Roman Pena ended Teaford's shutout bid with a sacrifice fly, the lefty's night was done.

In came Ben Swaggerty out of the bullpen, who inherited runners for the first time all season. With men at first and third base, the southpaw promptly walked his first batter, Adam Davis, to load the bases. That brought up the top of Kinston's order and Lucas Montero. But the leadoff hitter grounded into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

Kinston would threaten again in the ninth against Juan Abreu, who was making his Wilmington Blue Rocks debut. Davis earned another walk, this time when Abreu blew on his hand before a 3-1 pitch, awarding the K-Tribe batter an automatic ball to his count. That was followed by an RBI triple by Montero. But with the tying run 90 feet away, Abreu settled down and struck out Cord Phelps to record his first career save at the Advanced-A level.

Wilmington earned its lead thanks to three single tallies in the third, fourth and fifth frames.

The Rocks loaded the bases with three consecutive singles in the third inning. Mike Moustaks then grounded into a fielder's choice to score Adrian Ortiz. But Wilmington's rally stalled there when Clint Robinson struck out and David Lough flew out to center to end the inning.

In the fourth, Kinston starter Eric Berger appeared headed for a quick frame when he retired the first two batters. But with two outs and no one on, catcher Ryan Eigsti blasted his first home run of the season over the left-field fence to give the Rocks a 2-0 advantage.

Wilmington upped its lead to three in the fifth. Derrick Robinson, Jeff Bianchi and Moustaks again opened the frame for the Rocks with three straight singles. Moustakas' hit scored Robinson, to make it 3-0.

On the game, Derrick Robinson and Bianchi each had two hits for the Blue Crew, who pounded out eight as a team.

Berger (3-2) took the loss. The left-hander entered the contest with the second-lowest ERA in the Carolina League, but allowed three runs on seven hits in just five innings pitched.

The teams return to action on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium, with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. Opening day starter Alex Caldera (0-2, 4.97) will take the hill for Wilmington. He will be opposed by Paolo Espino (0-0, 0.00) who makes his second start of the year for Kinston.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Blue Rocks have now taken five of six from the Kinston Indians in 2009. The aggregate score in those contests has seen the Blue Crew outpace Kinston 31-11.

The win clinches a victory in the three-game series for Wilmington. It is just the Rocks' second series win in their last eight attempts.

Wilmington goes for just its second sweep of the season in Thursday's series finale.

Everett Teaford forced the K-Tribe into some overly aggressive at-bats on Wednesday. The Wilmington southpaw recorded five one pitch outs in his 6.1 frames of work. It was his second-longest outing of the campaign.

Mike Moustakas regained the team lead in RBIs from Clint Robinson with his two runs batted in. The third baseman now has plated 23 scores on the season.

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Carolina League Stories from May 13, 2009


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