Wilmington Scores Eight in Eighth, Breaks Five-Game Road Skid
Published on July 31, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release
Frederick, MD - A close ballgame blossomed into a merciless rout, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks ravaged the Frederick Keys, 9-1, in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday night at Harry Grove Stadium. The Rocks plated eight runs in the top of the eighth to transform a one-run lead into a laugher en route to snapping their overall losing streak at four games and their road skid at five. Seldom-used outfielder Brett Bigler drove in two runs and right-hander Matt Kniginyzky tied the team-high with his seventh victory.
Bigler, playing in only his sixth game of the month and his first since July 23, broke the silence of a pitcher's duel in the fifth with a two-out double that nearly wound up leaving the yard. Usually a slap hitter, the left-handed Bigler yanked a Brandon Erbe offering deep into right-center that chased Anthony Seratelli home from second. However, the Blue Rocks believed the ball cleared the wall, thus giving Bigler his first professional home run. But, base umpire A.J. Johnson conferred with plate ump Matt Arcovio and the duo affirmed the original ruling of double.
Bigler's knock finally solved the puzzled that was Erbe, who held the Blue Rocks to one hit and struck out six prior to Seratelli's bunt base hit with one out in the fifth. Erbe had allowed just four hits in 21 prior innings against the Rocks this season. Wilmington matched that total this time around, but Erbe (8-10) caved for just the one run and fanned eight men over six innings.
Kniginyzky (7-7) was equal to Erbe's challenge, as the Mississauga, Ontario native stifled the Keys over 6.1 innings and won his fifth straight decision. He scattered six hits and struck out four batters while walking only one. Kniginyzky departed with one out in the seventh after issuing a walk to Ryan McCarthy. Lefty Ben Swaggerty came on and got two quick outs via a strikeout-caught stealing double play. Kniginyzky finished the month of July with a perfect 4-0 mark and a 2.55 ERA in six starts.
The Blue Rocks blew a pair of late leads on Wednesday in a crushing loss at Potomac, but made sure history would not repeat when they went to work on J.P. Martinez in the top of the eighth. The Rocks got back-to-back walks by Bigler and Derrick Robinson to open the frame and, after a Bianchi foul-out to the catcher, Brad Correll slapped a single off the mitt of second baseman Miguel Abreu that scored Bigler from second and moved Robinson to third. Correll's knock was the first of six straight base hits, four of which produced RBIs. Cody Strait followed Correll with an infield RBI single of his own and Mertins crushed a double into left-center field to plate a pair. Mertins' poke chased Martinez, who left a 5-0 game and gave way to Ryan Ouelette, who would fair no better. Josh Johnson singled to put runners at the corners and Seratelli doubled to right to produced the sixth Blue Rocks run. After Matt Morizio cracked an RBI single, Bigler drove in his second run with a sac fly to left. The loud inning concluded when Jeff Bianchi tried to extend an RBI single into a double and was cut down at second by left fielder Chris Amador.
Wilmington sent 12 men to the plate in the bulky frame and collected seven base hits. The eight runs trump the previous season high for runs in an inning, which was seven, set May 29 at Salem.
The Rocks were an out away from their sixth shutout, but Henry Barrera allowed an RBI double to Jason White in the bottom of the ninth. The hard-throwing righty fanned Danny Figueroa with runners at second and third to end the game. Barrera was not called for a balk or illegal pitch on the night. The Montebello, CA had been cited seven such times over his past six appearances.
Wilmington and Frederick resume their series Friday night at 7 p.m. All-Star lefty Everett Teaford (6-4, 3.42) takes the ball for the Blue Rocks; he'll be opposed by Keys right Pedro Beato (4-6, 4.93).
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: Derrick Robinson became the first Blue Rock in franchise history to steal 50 bases in a season when he swiped second base of Brandon Erbe and catcher Justin Johnson in the third inning. Robinson, who turned down a full football scholarship from the University of Florida, leads the Carolina League and the Royals farm system in steals.
Brad Correll, who had struck out just 11 times in his first 24 games as a Blue Rock, fanned four times in five at-bats on Thursday.
The Blue Rocks completed the month of July with a 14-14 mark.
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