CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Whipped Again by Sox

Published on June 16, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Salem, VA - Alex Caldera missed the strike zone with each of his first three pitches and walked the first batter he faced in Salem on Wednesday night. That set the tone for Caldera (6-4), as the right-hander allowed three first-inning runs and the Salem Red Sox claimed a wire-to-wire, 9-6, win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Mitch Dening worked a free pass to open the game, which kick started an early Salem rally. Peter Hissey followed with a fielder's choice grounder to short, but three of the next four Salem batters reached safely to plate three tallies. Ryan Lavarnway singled and Oscar Tejeda walked to load the bases. One out later, Jorge Padron came through with a huge line-drive single to right. The knock easily scored two, but Nick Francis came up throwing. The right fielder tried to nail Tejeda at third, but instead his throw short-hopped past Adam Frost and into the Salem dugout. As a result, Tejeda was awarded an extra bag, and the Sox were on top 3-0.

That opening frame was just the start of a big offensive night for Lavarnway and Padron. Lavarnway added to his impressive total, with his 14th home run of the season in the seventh. It was the capper of a three-hit, three-run performance. Padron finished his evening 4-for-4 with two runs batted in.

Wilmington's offense tried to make things interesting when it pulled to within a single run in the top of the third. The Rocks scored a pair in the inning thanks to Adrian Ortiz's RBI triple and Francis' sacrifice fly to left.

Unfortunately, that was it offensively for the Blue Crew until the eighth inning, while Salem's offense was just getting started.

The Sox answered with a score in the bottom of the third on Oscar Tejeda's sacrifice fly to center field. Salem had an opportunity to blow the game open, but let it slip away when Caldera got out of a bases loaded one-out jam without further damage.

Salem was not deterred, as it plated two more runs just two frames later. Will Middlebrooks roped an

RBI double off the top of the wall in center, while Tim Federowicz scored Middlebrooks later in the inning with his sacrifice fly to right.

That inning ended Caldera's night. The Carolina League All-Star surrendered six runs (five earned) on eight hits, while walking four and fanning only three in five frames of work.

Salem added some big insurance runs in the seventh. Lavarnway got things started with his solo bomb to left. Federowicz capped things off with his one-out two-run double. The extra-base hits came off of reliever Brendan Lafferty, and gave Salem a 9-2 advantage.

Eric Hosmer and Jamie Romak pulled Wilmington back to within four runs in the eighth when they authored back-to-back homers. Hosmer bombed his third dinger of the season over the right-field fence for a two-run shot with one down in the frame. Romak followed with a less pronounced, but still impressive jack to left. It was Romak's team-leading fifth dinger of the year.

The Rocks put their first two men on base in the top of the ninth, but lost their momentum when Fernando Garcia grounded into a double play. Ortiz followed with an RBI single to make it a 9-6 game, but Francis flied out to left to end the game.

Michael Lee provided four solid innings of relief to earn the win. Lee (5-3) allowed three runs and fanned five to pick up the victory.

Wilmington wraps up its eight-day seven-game road trip in Salem on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Southpaw John Lamb (2-2, 2.48) will start for the Blue Rocks, while the Sox are slated to counter with right-hander Brock Huntzinger (6-3, 2.99).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

The Salem Red Sox have owned the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2010. The Sox have taken eight of their nine meetings with Wilmington so far this season, including eight in a row. Salem has averaged 7.6 tallies per game against the Blue Crew on the year.

The back-to-back home runs by Eric Hosmer and Jamie Romak in the eighth marked only the second time Wilmington has posted consecutive homers in 2010. Salvador Perez and Ryan Wood left the yard in succession during a 10-5 loss to the Winston-Salem Dash at Frawley Stadium on May 1.

The setback was Wilmington's 36th of the season. As a result, the Blue Rocks are guaranteed a losing first half in 2010.

Nick Francis reached base twice in the losing effort. The right fielder smoked a first-inning double off the wall in right. Francis now has 21 hits as a Blue Rock. Ten of those knocks have gone for extra bases.

Alex Caldera's four walks on Wednesday night equaled his season-high total. Caldera also walked four during an April 28 loss in Salem to the Red Sox. The right-hander entered this start averaging just 2.06 free passes per nine innings pitched.

Salvador Perez went hitless again on Wednesday. The catcher is in a 1-for-29 slump at the plate. As a result, the CL All-Star's batting average has dropped 39 points (.300-.261) in the process.

Salem starter Miguel Gonzalez authored his longest outing since 2007 on Wednesday night. Gonzalez, who missed all of 2008 with a knee injury and lost the entire 2009 campaign thanks to Tommy John surgery, went four innings in a no-decision. The right-hander had not gone longer than three innings in any of his first three outings of the season.

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Carolina League Stories from June 16, 2010


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