CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Two-Run Seventh Propels Wilmington to Victory

Published on July 30, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - When a team gets hot it starts to win games like the one played at Frawley Stadium on Thursday night. The Wilmington Blue Rocks erased a 3-2 deficit in the seventh inning by scoring runs on a passed ball and a sac fly. Then they held on, as Salem stranded one runner in the eighth, and left the bases full in the ninth.

Add it all up, and you get a 4-3 Wilmington victory, the Rocks' sixth straight win, and 11th in their last 14 games.

The drama began in the home seventh. With Wilmington down a run, Ryan Eigsti drew a walk to open the frame. Anthony Seratelli followed with a bunt single to put two men on. Derrick Robinson then grounded into a fielder's choice which put runners on the corners with one out for Johnny Giavotella.

At this point, Salem reliever Armando Zerpa was clearly rattled, missing badly with many of his pitches. But the one that scored Eigsti was not the left-hander's fault. Instead, the blame lies with catcher Luis Exposito, who picked the wrong time for his ninth passed ball of the season. Eigsti came home to even the game, and Robinson was at second. Seconds later Giavotella flared a pitch into left-center field, which reestablished runners at first and third.

With his location getting even worse, Zerpa (0-2) proceeded to walk Mike Moustakas on four pitches to load the bases for Clint Robinson. The designated hitter very nearly left the yard for a grand slam, but his topspin heavy liner to the warning track in right was more than deep enough to bring home the go-ahead tally.

In the eighth, on came right-handed reliever Eric Basurto for Wilmington. He allowed a lead-off single, but stranded the runner at first by retiring the next three batters.

In the ninth though, things did not come quite as easy for Basurto.

The reliever walked Jon Hee to open the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt, he allowed a Kris Negron single to right-center. The ball hung in the air long enough though to keep Hee from getting a good jump though, and the Hawaii native had to stop at third. Negron then immediately stole second to put the potential winning run in scoring position.

That brought the infield in for former Blue Rock Zach Borowiak, who sharply grounded out to Giavotella. The grounder gave the runners no shot to advance.

With two outs Daniel Nava walked to load the bases, meaning another free pass from Basurto would tie the game. He found a way to come through, inducing a chopper to short which Seratelli flipped to Giavotella at second for the force which ensured victory, and gave the reliever his first save of the year.

As tough as Basurto was down the stretch, credit also has to go to Wilmington starter Mario Santiago, who allowed 11 hits in just five innings. But the right-hander did just enough to avoid letting the game slip away. Santiago limited the Sox to three runs.

Salem took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Borowiak and a run-scoring single by Nava. The Rocks answered with a score in the home half of the frame on Derrick Robinson's lead-off triple, and Clint Robinson's first sac fly of the game.

In the third, the Rocks pulled even on a Giavotella ground rule double that plated Seratelli. Salem went back in front on Mike Jones' RBI triple in the fifth.

Santiago gave way to Carlos Rivas in the sixth, but not before he forced the Red Sox to leave five runners on base. Rivas (3-3) restored some sense of order to the game by allowing only man to reach over two scoreless frames. The effort garnered him the win.

Wilmington will look to stay hot on Friday as the Rocks host Salem again at 7:05 p.m. Mike Montgomery (0-0, 1.93) will make his Frawley Stadium debut on the mound. Salem will counter with right-hander Bryan Price (1-6, 6.54). Off the field, fans are invited to enjoy Cowboy Monkey Rodeo Night on the Riverfront. The Teamghostriders.com group will perform with monkeys, dressed as cowboys, riding dogs as if they were horses. It is as entertaining as it sounds, and if that is not enough to tickle your fancy, stick around after the game for a brilliant fireworks show.

For tickets, call 302-888-BLUE (2583) or visit bluerocks.com.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from July 30, 2009


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