CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes

Published on June 12, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


ELIMINATION DAY: The Wilmington Blue Rocks offense managed just six hits and put only three runners in scoring position all night long as the Blue Crew dropped a 3-1 decision to the Salem Red Sox on Tuesday night. The Rocks' fifth straight loss, coupled with Potomac's 3-1 win over Carolina, officially eliminated Wilmington from the race for a first- half Carolina League Northern Division crown.

SOLID START BY SAMPLE: Tyler Sample turned in the best effort by a Wilmington starter in almost a week, by scattering three runs (two earned) over five innings. Sample (0-2) struggled with command at times, walking four and hitting two batters, but he pitched around major damage by inducing double plays in both the third and fourth innings. After Wilmington's starting pitching had struggled over the first four contests of this six-game road trip, (Kyle Zimmer, John Lamb, Kyle Smith and Sam Selman combined to post an 0-4 record with a 21.52 ERA) Sample turning in his longest outing of the season was a welcome reprieve for the Blue Crew.

STRUGGLING OFFENSE: The Rocks offense simply could not solve the riddle that was Salem starter William Cuevas. The right-hander, who entered Tuesday with a 7.31 ERA, worked six strong one-run frames. He pitched to contact, striking out only two, but also limited Wilmington's chances to score. The Rocks stranded a runner at second in the second inning and then a line-drive double play ended a first-and-third threat in the third. The Blue Crew would not move another runner past first base until there were two outs in the ninth. Cheslor Cuthbert doubled off the wall in right at that point against Nate Striz to extend the game. Jared Schlehuber followed with a walk to put the potential tying-run on base, but Geulin Beltre grounded out to short to end the game and give Striz his fourth save of the season. The Rocks fell to 1-26 when trailing after eight innings and 5-24 when scoring three runs or less.

BULLPEN SUCCESS: The Wilmington bullpen continues to provide the lone positive news on this rough road trip. Spencer Patton worked the final three innings on Tuesday without allowing a run. That comes on the heels of Malcom Culver, Antonio Cruz and Robinson Yambati combining to work eight innings without yielding an earned run on Monday. Over the last five games, Rocks relievers have worked 25.1 innings collec- tively while allowing only three earned runs. On the season, the Blue Crew bullpen has posted a scant 2.87 ERA.

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END: Jared Schlehuber worked an important two-out walk in the ninth inning on Tuesday, but still saw his 12-game road-hitting streak come to a close. The first baseman finished his night 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Still, Schlehuber has been an incredible hitter on the road this year, where he is batting .373 as opposed to just .147 at Frawley Stadium.

CHISM CHIMING IN AT THE PLATE: Tyler Chism continues to show signs of life at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with a double and scored the Rocks lone run on Tuesday. The performance marked his second two-hit game in the last three contests. His batting average has risen by 33 points (from .149 to .182) over that stretch.

LOOKING AHEAD...: The Rocks will send southpaw John Lamb to the hill on Thursday against Winston-Salem. Lamb was on the fast track to the big leagues before he was derailed by Tommy John surgery in June of 2011. Lamb missed the rest of that season as well as most of the 2012 campaign. He appeared in just six games, splitting time between the Surprise Royals and Idaho Falls last year. Despite the injury, Lamb is still rated the No. 11 prospect in the Kansas City system by Baseball America. His changeup makes scouts drool, and his velocity, which was clocked consistently between 90-95 MPH before the injury, is beginning to return. Lamb was incredible during his brief stint in Wilmington in 2010. The Laguna Hills CA native went 6-3 with a 1.45 ERA in 13 starts with the Rocks. Lamb fanned 90 and walked ony 15 in 74.2IP that season. After tossing 14 straight scoreless innings in his final two starts of May, the lefty has endured a rocky start to June. In two starts, Lamb has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 17 hits in only nine innings pitched. He has lost both of those starts. His nine homers allowed this season are the most on the team.

Tonight's Probable Starters

WIL: RHP Kyle Zimmer (0-6, 6.32) vs. SAL: RHP Kyle Kraus (1-0, 2.00)

Kyle Zimmer is the jewel of the Kansas City farm system. The fifth-overall selection in the 2012 Draft is the top-rated prospect in the Royals organization according to Baseball America. He also sports the best command and best curveball among all Kansas City minor leaguers according to that same publication. Zimmer is an excellent athlete who excelled in basketball and water polo in high school. He was primarily a position-player in high school and during his freshman season at the University of San Francisco, but it did not take him long to pick up on the art of pitching. He has four pitches, including a four-seam fastball that is consistently clocked between 94-98 MPH as well as a deceptive over-the-top curve. Zimmer has failed to make it through the fifth frame in seven of his last 10 starts, including a career-worst two-thirds of a frame outing on Friday at Winston-Salem when he yielded five runs. He is personally winless, while the Rocks are just 1-11 when their Opening Day starter hits the hill.

Kyle Kraus makes his 16th appearance of the season, his third start as a member of the Red Sox, and his first against the Blue Rocks. He picked up his first win at the Advanced-A level in his last start against Lynchburg on Saturday. Over five innings, he allowed only one run on four hits while striking out five. Kraus was promoted to Salem on June 3 from Low-A Greenville to start the second game of a doubleheader against Winston-Salem. At Low-A, Kraus pitched exclusively out the bullpen, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.96 ERA over 13 games (18.1IP). He did not allow a run in 10 of his 13 out- ings, and held opponents to a .188 batting average. Currently in his second professional season, the right-hander split 2012 between Short-Season Lowell and Low-A Greenville. Over a combined 16 games (two starts), Kraus tallied a 2.96 ERA, and did not factor into any decisions. Originally from West Linn, OR, Kraus was selected by Boston in the seventh round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Portland. The all-time winningest pitcher in school history, he went 27-20 with a 3.30 ERA in 60 appearances with the Pilots, and was named First-Team All-West Coast Conference three times. In 2011, he pitched for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod League.

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Carolina League Stories from June 12, 2013


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