MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Wilmington, DE – The Wilmington Blue Rocks knew Sunday was a do or die situation. Entering the day trailing the first-place Lynchburg Hillcats by eight games with only 16 left to play, the Rocks no longer had any margin left for error. Fortunately Wilmington responded well to the pressure, as it swept a doubleheader from the Hillcats, and pulled back to within six games in the C.L. North standings.

 

Wilmington took game one, 4-1, thanks to a four-run explosion in the fifth inning. The Rocks sent eight men to the plate in the frame. Adrian Ortiz, Derrick Robinson and Johnny Giavotella each delivered run-scoring hits in the onslaught.

 

The inning opened with back-to-back singles by Clint Robinson and Jamar Walton. After a failed sacrifice attempt by Ryan Eigsti retired Robinson at third, Ortiz came through with a one-out single, which plated Walton. Derrick Robinson then slapped a double down the left field line that brought home Eigsti and Ortiz. Giavotella capped the frame off with a single through the hole at short, scoring Robinson, and giving Wilmington a comfortable three-run advantage.

 

Lynchburg’s lone tally came courtesy of a lead-off long ball in the top of the fourth inning by shortstop Jordy Mercer.

 

Starting pitcher Eduardo Paulino got the win. Paulino (2-3) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing only one run on three hits, and striking out five. Ben Swaggerty earned his second save by retiring the game’s final two batters.

 

Wilmington won the nightcap courtesy of a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Anthony Seratelli opened the frame with a double to left. Giavotella scored Seratelli one out later with a triple into the left-center field gap. Mike Moustakas then brought Giavotella home with an RBI single, giving the Rocks a two-run lead they would not relinquish.

The offense was enough thanks to a combined shutout from pitchers Rowdy Hardy, Chris Chavez and Juan Abreu.

 

Hardy, who was making his first start for the Blue Rocks since 2007, scattered six hits over five shutout innings. The left-hander was his typical self, working around trouble, and efficient with his pitch count. Five of his six hits allowed did not leave the infield.

 

Hardy let the inning’s opening batter reach base in three of his five frames though. His biggest jam came in the top of the fourth, when he loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of singles and a walk. But Hardy retired Alex Presley on the first pitch of his at-bat, forcing the center fielder to ground into a fielder’s choice at second.

 

Chavez (5-1) entered the game in the sixth, and tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the victory. Abreu then finished things off, facing only four batters in the seventh, to pick up his fourth save of the year.

 

The Rocks open a three-game series at Frawley Stadium on Monday with the Salem Red Sox. Mario Santiago (2-5, 4.61) will get the start for Wilmington, as first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. Off the field the Blue Rocks will pay tribute to the boss, as it is Bruce Springsteen Night at the stadium. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE (2583).

 

 

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Game two marked the Rocks’ fourth shutout victory of the season, and their second of the weekend.

 

The teams combined to score only nine runs in the four-game set. In fact zeroes littered the line score, as runs crossed the plate in only five of a possible 72 half-innings.

 

Wilmington pitchers held the Hillcats to just one hit in 15 attempts with runners in scoring position over the four games.

 

Rowdy Hardy’s start in the nightcap on Sunday, marked his first time on the mound during a home game in 2009. His previous six appearances all had come on the road.

 

Both Wilmington starters on Sunday enjoyed their longest outings of the season. Eduardo Paulino’s previous best was six innings on a May 27 loss to Frederick. Hardy had gone four frames in relief earlier this week at Kinston.

 

Before the game, Mike Moustakas, David Lough, Everett Teaford and Danny Duffy were all named to the Carolina League All-Star team. The Blue Rocks’ four representatives trail only the Frederick Keys’ six in terms of most men on the squad. The Carolina League All-Stars will face the California League All-Star team on Tuesday, June 23 in Lake Elsinore, CA.

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