CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Three Blue Rocks Combine On 1-0 Shutout

Published on May 15, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Kinston, NC - Three pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (18-21) blanked the Kinston Indians, 1-0, at Grainger Stadium on Thursday night. A single score in the first inning on a Jeff Howell two-out single held up behind seven scoreless innings from starter Matt Kniginyzky (1-4), who faced three over the minimum en route to his first Advanced-A victory. Gilbert De La Vara held serve for 1.2 innings thereafter, and Tyler Chambliss retired the lone man he faced in the ninth for his team-leading sixth save. The Blue Crew has won three straight road games for the first time in 2008, and has its first road series victory in six tries this season, taking three of four from the K-Tribe.

Three first-inning singles produced the game's only run. Josh Johnson sparked the surge with a one-out poke to left. One pitch later, Kurt Mertins singled through the left-side hole as well. Joe Dickerson lined out to second base, and Mertins just dove back to first in time to avoid getting doubled up. It set the stage for Howell, who fell behind 0-2 in the count but rallied to drive Johnson home with a single to right.

The Blue Rocks would muster just a Jarrod Dyson infield single thereafter, as Kinston starter Carlton Smith (0-1) and reliever Mike Pontius combined to sit down 25 of the next 26 Wilmington hitters, including the last 22 in a row.

But the Blue Crew's staff proved more than equal to the task, holding the K-Tribe off the scoreboard all night. Kniginyzky struck out six men on his outing, allowing just a two-out walk, a lucky infield base hit and a two-out single.

Beau Mills drew a full-count free pass in the first inning, but never advanced a base as Kniginyzky induced a force play at second from Jared Goedert to end the frame. Kinston's best chance to score came in the third inning, when little-used second baseman Cristo Arnal singled off the first-base bag itself. The ball's odd path toward and off of the base forced an awkward charge by first baseman Anthony Seratelli, who tripped up just enough en route that Arnal legged out a single. A sac bunt from Brian Juhl moved Arnal to second, while a Jason Denham right-side ground out pushed the runner to third. But Arnal would also be left stranded when Johnny Drennen bounced out to first base. Nick Weglarz produced a two-out smashed single to center in the seventh, but Dickerson robbed Carlos Rivero of a sinking liner with a leaning catch in the shallow right-center gap to end the inning.

Kniginyzky departed having retired 15 of the last 16 Indians he faced, and gave way to the southpaw De La Vara. Niuman Romero began the eighth with a single up the middle and Kinston inserted Jerad Head as a pinch runner. Arnal followed at the plate, missing on consecutive bunt attempts before dropping down a successful sac bunt on an 0-2 pitch. But De La Vara rebounded, striking out Juhl and getting Denham to bounce out to himself to end the inning.

De La Vara retired the first two batters of the ninth inning and Wilmington manager Darryl Kennedy made a move to the bullpen for the squad's save leader, Chambliss, and a righty-righty match-up. Chambliss fell behind Goedert 3-1 in the count, but got the former Kansas State star to fly out to center field for the final out.

The Blue Rocks seven-game road trip moves to Myrtle Beach, SC where a three-game set against the Pelicans opens up on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Wilmington right-hander Jason Godin (2-2, 3.82) opposes fellow righty Chris Vines (1-0, 0.84).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Wilmington brought its month of May record (7-7) back to sea level with Thursday's triumph.

Jeff Howell's hit was his first on the road trip and the RBI marks his first since May 1. Six of his 13 RBIs this season have come in five games against Kinston.

With five wins in seven games against Kinston, the Blue Rocks have a better record against the K-Tribe than any other team in the Carolina League. That success is part of why Wilmington has played better than .500 ball against Southern Division foes at 14-13.

Matt Kniginyzky earned his first win since July 4, 2007 while with the Low-A Burlington Bees against Beloit. Thursday's outing is his longest since August 11, 2006 when he also went seven innings in a Bees win at Peoria.

Over his last 10 appearances, Tyler Chambliss has tossed 11.1 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and five walks while striking out 11 men and notching both his single win and each of his six saves.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 15, 2008


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