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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Spoils Winston's Weekend

June 20, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Evidently the role of spoiler suits the Wilmington Blue Rocks rather well. The Winston-Salem Dash will have to wait at least a little longer to celebrate a Carolina League South first-half championship thanks to the Blue Crew's 7-4 win on Sunday at Frawley Stadium. It marked the second straight game Wilmington denied the Dash a chance to clinch a postseason berth with a win. With the setback, Winston-Salem will have to wait for the completion of Sunday evening's game between the Salem Red Sox and the Kinston Indians. If Salem wins, the Dash and Red Sox will decide the first-half crown in the teams' first meeting of the season's second half.

Things did not start smoothly for the Rocks. Ivor Hodgson was greeted by the first batter he faced with a solo home run. Brandon Short lofted a 3-1 fast-ball over the right-field fence for an opposite-field dinger that put Winston-Salem on top 1-0.

Luckily for Hodgson (3-6) it was not an omen of things to come. The left-hander quickly settled down and retired the next 12 men he faced. In the meantime, his offense was busy picking him up and taking the lead.

Wilmington evened the contest in the third inning thanks to the aide of some shaky Dash defense. Fernando Garcia led off the frame with a walk and was replaced on the base paths by Patrick Norris when the center fielder bounced into a fielder's choice. Wilmington followed with what could have been two double-play grounders. Adrian Ortiz bounced one sharply to second baseman Drew Garcia, who fielded and flipped cleanly to second. But Eduardo Escobar was in too great a hurry to make the turn and never touched second base for the force. Compounding his mistake, the shortstop threw wide of first for an error, allowing both runners to reach safely.

Nick Francis followed with a smoked grounder to third baseman Jon Gilmore, who bobbled the ball, leaving Winston-Salem with time to get only one out, retiring Ortiz at second. That set the stage for Eric Hosmer's RBI single up the middle.

The Rocks offense came through again just one inning later. Salvador Perez opened the frame with a line-drive single to right. He came around to score on Jamar Walton's triple to the left-center field gap. It appeared Walton might end up stranded at third base, as Dash starter Terry Doyle battled back with two straight strikeouts. That was until Norris walked, and Ortiz singled through the right-side hole, to give the Rocks a 3-1 advantage.

Winston-Salem's offense finally showed signs of life in the fifth. Ozzie Lewis started the frame with a single and came home one out later on Luis Sierra's double to the left-center field alley. Sierra was left in scoring position however, as Hodgson got back-to-back line-drive outs off the bats of Garcia and Justin Greene to retire the side.

Hodgson stranded men in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, and ran into even more serious danger in the eighth. Winston-Salem put its first two men on courtesy of Hodgson plunking Greene and watching Short author a bunt-single. After Escobar sacrificed both runners into scoring position Hodgson was pulled in favor of reliever Harold Mozingo.

Mozingo induced a high pop into shallow center by Gilmore, which failed to carry deep enough to score the runner from third. After an intentional walk to Seth Loman loaded the bases, Lewis bounced into a fielder's choice at third to end the threat.

Wilmington put the game away in the next half-frame. Back-to-back two-out RBI knocks by Norris and Ortiz made it 6-2. Just for good measure, the Rocks added one last tally on another Dash error, giving the Blue Crew a five-run advantage.

Mozingo worked the ninth as well, allowing two meaningless runs, but picking up his first save of the season.

The Rocks get the next three days off for the All-Star break, but will return to action with a three-game series against the Salem Red Sox at Frawley Stadium on Thursday. First pitch of the opener is at 7:05 p.m. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Ivor Hodgson has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven of his last nine starts. His outing on Sunday marked only the third time all season he did not walk a single batter during a start. His seven strikeouts also equaled a season-high.

Wilmington finished the first half with a record of 32-38. The victory gave the Rocks a winning record at Frawley Stadium. They finished the first 70 games with an 18-16 mark at home.

Wilmington also improved its record against the Dash on the season to 7-6. Winston-Salem is 37-21 against the league's other six teams.

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