CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes

Published on June 14, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


HEART-BREAKING LOSS IN EXTRAS: Brent Tanner tied the game in the ninth, and then won it in the 11th for Winston-Salem on a two-run homer to right, as the Dash beat the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-3 on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium. Ahead for six of the first eight innings, the Blue Crew suffered their seventh straight loss to the Dash. With the defeat, the club drops to 32-35 ending its chance to finish the first half above .500.

DAZED AND CONFUSED BY THE DASH: The Blue Rocks continue to be puzzled by the Winston-Salem Dash. Despite scoring first (a feat the Blue Crew never accom- plished in its recent three-game journey to BB&T Ballpark), the team fell to 1-10 against its Southern Division counterpart in 2013. The Blue Rocks only win this year against the Dash came on April 21, a 5-3 victory in the Triad. Despite recording 10 hits on Thursday, Wilmington is batting just .213 as a club against Dash pitching, while the Winston-Salem pitching staff has posted a 1.93 ERA against Rocks hitters.

SPOT START: Kellen Moen suffered a no-decision despite turning in arguably his finest performance of the season. Taking the place of scheduled starter John Lamb, Moen allowed just one run over five innings while making his first start since September 1, 2012 with Low-A Kane County. The start was also Moen's longest appearance of 2013, and his most lengthy stint since July 23, 2012, when he turned in five innings against Dayton, as a mem- ber of the Cougars. Coming off his finest month of the season in May (where he posted a 1.84 ERA in six games), Moen's strong start on Thursday also helped trim his ERA to 3.38.

LET'S GO STREAKING: Jack Lopez extended his hitting streak to 12 games on Thursday night, going 3-for-6 with two runs scored. The 12-game streak is the longest by a member of the Blue Rocks this season, and is presently tied for the second-longest active hit streak in the Carolina League (Lynchburg's Elmer Reyes holds the longest active streak, hitting safely in his last 15 games). Lopez also recorded his second three- hit game of the season, and his first since May 11 against Frederick (a contest where he posted seven RBIs). Over Lopez's 12-game streak he is hitting .333 (17-for-51) with a triple, double, five RBIs, and seven runs scored.

PARKER PRODUCES: Following a rough 5-for-54 stretch at the plate, Wilmington catcher Parker Morin has been locked in at the plate over his last three contests. Coming off an exceptional Wednesday night, where he posted career-highs in hits (four) and RBIs (three), the Utah native went 1-for-4 with his fifth RBI in his last four games. He is also riding a mini three-game hitting streak, during which time he has raised his average from .198 to .225.

ENDING ANOTHER STREAK: The Blue Rocks played error-free baseball for the first time since June 2. Wilmington committed 18 defensive miscues during its season- long streak of 10 consecutive games with at least one error. On the season, the Blue Crew has committed 90 errors, eight more than any other team in the Carolina League.

LOOKING AHEAD...: The Rocks will send left-hander Sam Selman to the hill on Saturday against Winston-Salem. Selman has a live arm, but control issues plagued him throughout most of his career at Vanderbilt. The Austin,TX native pitched just 12 innings during his first two collegiate seasons because he could not locate his fastball. His struggles with command persisted into his junior campaign, as he lost his spot in the weekend rota- tion. He finally turned the corner that May, regained his spot in the rotation and lived up to his immense potential. The southpaw won critical late-season starts at Florida and South Carolina, and scouts were so impressed Selman was drafted in the second round by the Royals and given a $750,000 bonus. He led the Pioneer League in strikeouts in his first season as a pro and would have topped the league in ERA as well had he worked one more inning. In 2013, command continues to be his biggest concern. Selman has issued five more free passes (39) than any other pitcher in the Carolina League. He had earned wins in three of his previous four starts, until a disastrous outing on Monday. Selman did not record an out, allowing eight runs (five earned) on four hits and two walks. The effort raised his ERA by almost a full point (4.29 to 5.19).

Tonight's Probable Starters

WIL: RHP Kyle Smith (4-2, 2.59) vs. W-S: RHP Bryan Blough (4-4, 4.66)

Kyle Smith was the only Blue Rock named to the Carolina League All-Star team last week. He will represent the league in the annual Carolina League-California League All-Star game on Tuesday, June 18. This year's event will take place at Municipal Stadium, home of the California League's San Jose Giants. In his second professional season, Smith, 20, is making his first All- Star game appearance. The Blue Rocks' most consistent starter in 2013, Smith was at his best during the month of May. All four of his victories came in the season's second month, a stretch where he went 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA over six starts. Presently, he ranks fourth in the Carolina League in earned run average (2.59), tied for second in wins (6) and fifth in batting average against (.224). The right-hander has turned in seven quality starts this season, but is coming off of his roughest outing of the year, when he yielded six runs on six hits over five frames in a loss to the Dash last Sunday.

Bryan Blough makes his 14th start of the year and his third against the Blue Rocks. Tying his season-high with seven innings on Sunday, Blough held the Rocks to only one run on six hits. However he was even better on April 27 on the Riverfront. In that contest, he tossed seven shutout innings in a winning effort, and carried a no-hitter into the sixth. Half of the right-handers wins have come against Wilmington in 2013, while he has posted vic- tories in back-to-back starts for the first time since July 2012. Left-handed hitters still remain a struggle for Blough, who has a group, have hit .345 against him (compared to righties who are only batting .226). Hardly the "new kid on the block", this is Blough's second tour of duty with the Dash, after the native Georgian pitched 10 games (all in relief) for Winston-Salem in 2012, posting a 3.93 ERA in 18,.1 innings pitched. Originally an 18th round draft pick out of Kennesaw State in 2011, Blough comes right at hitters with an over-the-top delivery. He show- cases a fastball (88-92) and a slider with solid depth.

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Carolina League Stories from June 14, 2013


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