MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-Wilmington, DE –A brilliant start by the newest member of their rotation, and another lights out performance by the backend of the bullpen carried the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 2-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium.

Jason Godin, who is taking over the starting spot of recently promoted southpaw Rowdy Hardy, kept the Myrtle Beach offense off balance for six strong innings.The right-hander allowed only four hits and one unearned run.

Godin (2-0) had not started a game since April 25 in Winston-Salem.But he showed no signs of rust by striking out six, while not walking a single batter.

The 24-year-old Old Dominion product was so pitch-efficient he made it through six innings with ease, despite the fact that his previous season-long outing was only four frames.

The lone run Godin surrendered was setup by an error from third basemanAntonio Jimenez.The miscue was sandwiched between two singles, as the Pelicans loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second.But Godin induced a huge double play off the bat of Chris Shehan.A run did come home on the play, but when Robert Marcial flew out to left two pitches later, the damage had been limited.

Wilmington answered right back with a run in the home half of the second.Wilmington evened the game without managing a hit.Two errors by second baseman Michael Fisher allowedPaulo Orlandoto reach second base.That was followed by another miscue by Myrtle Beach third baseman Donnell Linares on anAnthony Seratelligroundball.

Seratelli was then picked off of first, but had the wits to get himself caught in a rundown.Orlando broke for home as Seratelli was stuck between first and second, and he slid in just in front of Marcial’s throw plateward.

In the fifth, Wilmington got the go-ahead run thanks to some production by the top of its order.Derrick Robinsonsingled with one out and then immediately stole second base.He came home onJohnny Giavotella’sline-drive single back through the box, to make it 2-1.

When Godin departed after the sixth, Blue Rocks managerBrian Ruppturned the game over to his two top relievers.

Brandon Siskblew the Pelicans away in the seventh and eighth, striking out four of the eight batters he faced.Sisk then gave way to closerJuan Abreu,who picked up his 12^thsave in as many attempts.Abreu struck out two, but did allow the tying run to move into scoring position on a walk and a stolen base, before getting Gerry Rodriguez on a sharp grounder to third to end the game.

Myrtle Beach starter Richard Sullivan was the tough-luck loser.Sullivan (2-6) surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings pitched.

With the Pelicans migrating back south, the Rocks are set to begin a three-game series at Frawley Stadium with the Frederick Keys on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.Danny Duffy(6-3, 3.69) will make the start for Wilmington, while Frederick will counter with Pedro Beato (5-5, 4.84).Off the field, the Rocks will pay homage to modern literature with a Harry Potter tribute, and the first 1,000 fans will receive t-shirts courtesy of Verizon.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Jason Godinwas making his first start at Frawley Stadium since taking a line drive off his face on June 17, 2008.Godin would miss the rest of the ’08 campaign recovering, and had made only one start on the road through the first three-plus months of 2009.

Godin’s victory was his first as a starter since May 5, 2008, when he defeated the then-Salem Avalanche.

The Blue Rocks’ struggles at home finally came to a close on Thursday.Wilmington managed just its fourth win in the last 15 games at Frawley Stadium.The Blue Crew had been outscored 68-31 in their previous 14 contests on the Riverfront.

The Rocks won despite having another poor offensive night with runners in scoring position.Wilmington went just 1-for-9 with men on second or third on Thursday.The Rocks ended the four-game set with Myrtle Beach just 6-for-34 with runners in scoring position.

Johnny Giavotella’s RBI single in the fifth made it hits for the second baseman in 18 of his last 21 games.He has raised his average by 29 points over that stretch to .242.

Wilmington’s victory on Thursday avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.The Rocks have been swept only once all season.They are currently on a 19-series streak of winning at least one game.

The Blue Crew improved to 16-14 in one-run games, and 37-1 when leading after eight innings.

Rowdy Hardy, who was called-up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Monday, made his first start for the Nats in 2009 on Thursday.The left-hander allowed four runs over five innings to take the loss.

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