CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Takes Two from Frederick

Published on July 15, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Two sparkling pitching performances by the Wilmington Blue Rocks helped lead the team to a pair of victories on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium. Wilmington swept a doubleheader from the Frederick Keys, taking the opener, 10-1, and winning the nightcap, 2-0.

Both Wilmington starters got victories as the duo of Buddy Baumann and John Lamb was too much for the Frederick hitters to handle.

Baumann authored the best start of his brief professional career in game one. The left-hander tossed a career-high six frames, allowing just one run on two hits in the process. Baumann fanned six and walked only one. He retired the side in order on four different occasions and faced the minimum five times.

His offense provided him with more than enough support in the second inning. Wilmington sent 11 batters to the plate in a frame that resulted in six runs.

Nick Francis got things started with a single. He went to second on a passed ball and after a Wil Myers walk, stole third base. That allowed Jamar Walton's fielder's choice ground ball to score a run and give Wilmington the lead for good.

Three consecutive Blue Rock batters proceeded to come through with hits, while six straight men reached safely. Adam Frost got an infield single and then Rey Navarro came through with an RBI double. With men at second and third, Fernando Garcia made it 3-0 with his infield single. A fielder's choice and error on first baseman Jacob Julius allowed another tally to come across, while Christian Colon's RBI single made it 5-0, Wilmington. Francis put the cherry on top of what he started when he capped the scoring with his sacrifice fly to right.

Wilmington piled four more runs on late thanks to some sloppy defense. The Rocks plated one score in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Three of the four late tallies were unearned, as Wilmington scored five unearned runs overall in the game courtesy of three Frederick errors.

As good as Baumann was on the hill in the opener, Lamb may have outdone him in the nightcap. The 20-year-old tossed six shut out frames, making Frederick look overmatched in the process. Lamb recorded three perfect innings, but saw his most impressive frame come in the second, when he fanned four Frederick batters.

Lamb got Miguel Abreu and Buck Britton to swing and miss at a pair of high fastballs for his first two punch outs of the frame. He then got Phillip Britton to chase a 1-2 pitch in the dirt, but watched it skip away from catcher Salvador Perez. The wild pitch extended the frame, and when Pedro Florimon followed with a double into the right-field corner, Lamb appeared in trouble. But the left-hander got Bobby Stevens to chase another high fastball for his fourth strikeout of the inning, which crushed the threat.

Wilmington's offense did not do much in the nightcap, but it was enough for a win. One big hit actually proved to be the difference. After Frederick starter Ryan Berry issued a pair of walks to Patrick Norris and Eric Hosmer, Myers roped a one-out double into left-center field. Frederick centerfielder Xavier Avery tried to race the ball down, but it landed just past his outstretched arm. Avery then ran full speed into the fence as a sort of cruel consolation prize. The knock scored a pair, which were the only two runs Wilmington would need (and get).

Barry Bowden tossed a scoreless final frame to grab his eighth save of the season, while Berry (2-1) took his first loss with the Keys.

Wilmington will host Frederick again on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Jairo Cuevas (3-3, 6.32) takes the hill for the Rocks against Keys righty Oliver Drake (2-4, 4.30).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Eight of the 10 Blue Rocks who came to the plate during either game on Thursday night got at least one hit. Salvador Perez went hitless during his start behind the plate in the nightcap, while Patrick Norris failed to record a knock despite starting both ends of the twin bill. But the center fielder did manage to score three times as he returned to the top of the Wilmington batting order.

The win in game two marked the seventh shutout authored by the Rocks in 2010. John Lamb has gotten the start each of the last two times the Rocks have blanked their opponent, while Barry Bowden has closed out each of the previous three shutouts.

Kevin Chapman made his professional debut in the final inning of the opener. Chapman, who was the Royals fourth-round pick in this June's draft, allowed three hits, but none of them were hard hit balls. He also did not allow a score, stranding the bases loaded.

Eric Hosmer had a big night at the plate. The first baseman went a combined 3-for-5 in the doubleheader. Hosmer added an RBI and scored a run. He also padded his league-leading double total, with a pair of two-base hits. Hosmer now has 29 doubles on the season.

Wilmington earned its first sweep of a doubleheader this season. The Rocks had been swept during a double dip by Myrtle Beach on Monday night. The Blue Crew split its other two doubleheaders of the season.

The victory also moved Wilmington above .500 for only the second time all year. The Rocks are now 46-45 on the season.

Check out the Wilmington Blue Rocks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from July 15, 2010


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