CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington's Streak Stops At Seven

Published on April 19, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Every Kinston Indian batter had at least one hit on Tuesday night as the Wilmington Blue Rocks saw their seven-game winning streak come to a close in a 7-3 loss at Frawley Stadium. The Rocks allowed a season-high 17 hits and were fortunate the final was not more lopsided.

Kinston stranded six men in scoring position over the first three innings, but still managed a 3-0 lead against Rocks starter Tim Melville. After the Blue Crew pulled even in the home-third, Kinston pressed harder on the gas, going in front for good on a run in the fifth, adding a pair of insurance tallies in the seventh and capping the scoring with a run in the eighth.

Six different K-Tribers recorded multi-hit performances with nine-hole stick Justin Toole leading the way. The second baseman, who did not play in Wilmington's series-opening 5-3 victory on Monday, went 4-for-5 and knocked in four runs. His RBI single to right put Kinston on top 3-0 in the third. The 24-year-old followed that up with a run-scoring single in the fifth that caromed off the glove of Wilmington third baseman John Whittleman. The effort put Kinston back on top, 4-3. He capped his evening off by driving in a pair in the seventh.

Melville(1-2) took the loss, as he struggled to find a comfort zone through his entire outing. The right-hander pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam in the opening inning by striking out the side, but consecutive bunt-singles set up an RBI grounder in the second. Kinston extended the lead an inning later when Toole began his heroics.

After yielding back-to-back singles to open the fifth, Toole struck again, as his one-out single chased Melville for good. The Wilmington starter left having allowed a career-high 12 hits while walking three and fanning four.

Meanwhile the Rocks could do little to counter offensively. Eight of Wilmington's nine starters struck out at least once. Collectively the Blue Crew fanned 11 times. -MORE- Wilmington's only runs of the evening came in large part thanks to Kinston starter Drew Pomeranz's lack of control. The left-hander walked the first two batters he faced in the third inning and both eventually circled around to score. Alex McClure laced an RBI grounder to first while Rey Navarro added a sacrifice fly to center. Nick Francis managed the only run-scoring hit of the night for the Rocks with his two-out single to right.

That was all though, as Wilmington finished the evening with just four hits. Kinston reliever Travis Turek (2-0) worked four one-hit innings of scoreless ball to collect the victory.

The Rocks look to start a new winning streak as they close out their first homestand of the season with an 11:05 a.m. matinee against the K-Tribe. Wilmington will start right-hander Tyler Sample (1-0, 1.17) while Kinston is set to counter with righty Marty Popham (0-0, 6.75). For tickets call 302-888-BLUE or visit bluerocks.com.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: The Rocks suffered a pair of firsts on Tuesday. The game marked Wilmington's first loss in five contests against Kinston in 2011, and it also marked the Blue Crew first setback in seven tries against a left-handed starting pitcher.

Nick Francis continues to show signs of life at the plate. After opening the season 3-for-25, Francis has hit safely in five consecutive games. The right fielder had extra-base knocks in each of his previous three contests entering Tuesday, and added an RBI single in a 1-for-4 effort in the loss. He also recorded his Carolina League best seventh outfield assist of the season in the seventh inning. Wilmington's Adrian Ortiz tied for the league-lead in that category a season ago with 17.

The bottom-third of Kinston's lineup was particularly harmful to Wilmington's cause on Tuesday. Doug Pickens, Roberto Perez and Justin Toole finished the evening a combined, 7-for-11 with four RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and a sacrifice.

The Rocks needed 5.2 innings to get their first hit off of Kinston starter Drew Pomeranz when they faced him last week. Whit Merrifield ended the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft's bid for a no-hitter with his two-out knock that afternoon. He brought Pomeranz's bid for a no-no to a close on Tuesday as well, but needed a little less time, cracking a double in Wilmington's first at-bat of the game. Merrifield recorded the Rocks' first two hits of the contest. In fact it took 8.1 innings for someone other than Merrifield to record a hit off of the K-Tribe flame-thrower. Francis ended the streak with his third-inning single.

Speaking of Merrifield, he continued his hot stretch at the plate. The left fielder went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Tuesday. After starting the season in a 4-for-21 funk, Merrifield has gone 9-21 over the last six contests.

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Carolina League Stories from April 19, 2011


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