CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Win Eludes Wilmington in Extras

Published on June 4, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE- Michael Burgess' two-run double with one out in the top of the 11th inning gave the Potomac Nationals their first lead of the night, and the P-Nats held on, handing the Wilmington Blue Rocks a 5-2 loss on Friday at Frawley Stadium.

Wilmington reliever Brendan Lafferty took the loss. In his third inning of relief, the left-hander struggled with his command. Lafferty (0-1) walked Steve Lombardozzi to open the 11th, and after a sacrifice bunt, also issued a free pass to Derek Norris.

That set the stage for Burgess, who smashed a liner down the left-field line. The ball bounced just inside the chalk in fair territory, allowing both runners to come around and score. Burgess would also come home one out later when Robbie Jacobsen poked a single just under the glove of a diving Rey Navarro at short.

Dan Leatherman (2-1) set down nine of the 10 Rocks he faced to earn the win.

The game was an entertaining pitcher's duel throughout. Both starters pitched well, but received no-decisions.

Wilmington hurler Ivor Hodgson Jr. worked a career-high 7.1 frames, keeping the P-Nats off balance right from the first pitch. He struck out a season-high six batters, allowing only a pair of tallies on seven hits. Potomac's Patrick Lehman went seven strong, allowing only two runs on six hits. He fanned six and did not walk a single batter.

Wilmington got on the board first in the fourth inning. Jamie Romak led off the frame with a double into the left-field corner. He then went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Taylor, and came home on Jamar Walton's RBI grounder to first.

The P-Nats answered in the very next half frame. Jacobsen sent Hodgson's 2-0 pitch soaring over the left-center field fence. The solo shot was Jacobsen's third homer of the season and it tied the game at one.

The Rocks went back in front with a score in the sixth. Nick Francis opened the inning with a sinking liner into center field that fell in cleanly for what should have been a single. But outfielder Nick Moresi misplayed the ball, allowing Francis to scamper all the way to third.

Eric Hosmer wasted little time bringing Francis home. He swung at the very next pitch and ripped a liner into the left-center field gap. The ball split the outfielders and got all the way to the fence. Hosmer was thrown out trying to stretch his extra-base hit into a triple, but Francis was able to jog home with the go-ahead run.

Potomac again had an answer one-half inning later. Burgess started things off in the seventh with a liner to left that fell in for a single. Tyler Moore followed with a double off the wall in right that put runners on second and third with no outs. Jacobsen pulled the P-Nats even with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Rocks continue this four-game series with Potomac at Frawley Stadium on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Alex Caldera (4-3, 3.12) will take the hill for Wilmington. He will be opposed by Potomac southpaw Evan Bronson (1-3, 3.70).

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

For the second consecutive night Wilmington's starting pitcher established a new season-high in strikeouts. Just 24 hours after Chris Dwyer fanned nine, Ivor Hodgson, Jr. whiffed six. That was still only halfway to Hodgson's career-high. The left-hander struck out 12 as a Burlington Bee on August 6, 2009.

The loss upped Wilmington's team-losing streak to four games with Hodgson on the mound. It was still the third straight solid start for the Mt. St. Mary 's product. In 17.2 innings pitched over that stretch, Hodgson has surrendered just six earned runs, fanning 12 and walking only a pair.

With the setback Wilmington saw its extra-innings record fall to 2-3.

Jamie Romak established a new season-high for Wilmington hitters when he extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Romak smoked a fourth-inning double to keep the streak alive. The utility man, who manned third base on Friday night, finished the night, 2-for-5. He is batting a blistering .432(19-for-44) over these last 12 games, raising his average 53 points in the process.

When Jason Taylor laid down a successful sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning, it led to a Wilmington score. It was also good for Taylor's first sacrifice of the season, and the first sac bunt by a Blue Rocks DH in 2010.

The Wilmington offense finished with 10 hits on Friday night. Five of those knocks came with two outs and nobody on base.

Eric Hosmer had four hits on Friday night, equaling a season-high for any Blue Rock. Twice beforein 2010 it had been done by a Blue Crewer, with Hosmer accomplishing the feat last on May 15. That night he had four hits against, coincidentally enough, the Potomac Nationals He was one knock shy of the franchise record which is shared by 10 men, including current hitting coach Justin Gemoll, who did it in 2002.

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Carolina League Stories from June 4, 2010


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