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CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Center Fielder Lifts Blue Crew to Eighth Straight Win

August 1, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Thanks to a five-run fifth inning, which was highlighted by Derrick Robinson's two-run homer, the Wilmington Blue Rocks won their eighth straight game, taking an 8-3 decision from the Salem Red Sox on Saturday night at Frawley Stadium.

Robinson, who is in his second full season with the Blue Rocks and also had a cup of coffee with the Blue Crew in 2007, had not left the yard at the Advanced-A level. When he sent Eammon Portice's 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence, it ended the center fielder's 221-game, 895-at-bat homerless streak as a Blue Rock.

It also was part of a frame which saw the Rocks send 11 men to the plate, get six hits, and plate five scores.

It all started in a 1-1 tie, with Nick Van Stratten's double. He then scored on a Jamar Walton single to right. Walton went to second on a groundout off the bat of Matt Morizio, which put the left fielder in position to come home on Anthony Seratelli's line drive back through the box.

That set the stage for Robinson's two-run dinger, which put the Rocks in front 5-1. Johnny Giavotella restarted the rally with a single. He would eventually make it 6-1 thanks to Clint Robinson's RBI hit.

All five of the runs were charged to Portice (6-5), who exited the game after Giavotella's single. The right-hander seemed to fall apart instantaneously after a solid first four frames. The Rocks first run came on Mike Moustakas' RBI double. But other than that, Wilmington could muster nothing off the Salem starter, who had struck out six through four.

Blue Rocks pitcher Eduardo Paulino's start was not as impressive. The right-hander surrendered a double to left on the game's opening pitch, but he settled down to maroon the man at third thanks to three straight grounders to the mound.

He would then strand two in the second, and after a perfect third, left a runner in scoring position in the fourth.

Paulino would surrender the lead in the top of the fifth on John Hee's run-scoring double, but again he pitched his way out of major damage by leaving a pair on. Then his teammates would pick him up in the home half of the frame.

Paulino (5-6) earned the win by going six-plus frames, allowing three runs on six hits, and walking only two.

He gave way to Chris Chavez with no one out and a man on in the seventh, and although the right-handed reliever allowed the inherited runner to score, he kept Salem off the board the rest of the way to pick up his fourth save.

The night belonged to Derrick Robinson though. He finished 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and two RBIs. Moustakas also added three hits, and drove in three, including insurance tallies in the sixth and eighth.

Wilmington will look to stay hot on Sunday as the Rocks host Salem again at 1:35 p.m. Rehabbing Royals pitcher Gil Meche will take the hill for the Rocks. He is expected to throw between 55 to 65 pitches. Salem will counter with right-hander Stephen Fife (1-0, 2.04). Off the field, fans will enjoy the second edition of Family Faith Day at Frawley Stadium. The festivities will be highlighted by a post-game concert from the band, Sum of One.

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

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