Wilmington, DE- After enduring a 46-minute rain delay at the outset, dreary damp conditions all night, and 20 consecutive scoreless innings over two games, the Wilmington Blue Rocks offense ended the evening in style.  Eric Hosmer blasted a two-run homer over the right-field fence to give the Rocks a 2-0 walk-off win over the Lynchburg Hillcats in 12 innings on Friday night at Frawley Stadium.  The victory gave the Rocks a two-games to one lead in the best-of-five Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series.
 
Hosmer’s heroics erased a whole lot of misery for Wilmington.  The Rocks had stranded runners in scoring position in the first, second, and seventh innings.  They failed to register a hit from one out in the third through the 11th frame.
 
But Clint Robinson ended that slump with his lead-off single in the 12th.  That brought up Hosmer with a man at first and no outs.  The first baseman said after the game his first thought was to look down at third-base coach and manager Brian Rupp to see if a sacrifice bunt was on.  
 
Fortunately for the Rocks it was not, and Hosmer blasted the first pitch deep into the right-field sky for a game-winner.
 
Lynchburg wasted plenty of opportunities in its own right.  The Hillcats had two golden chances to go ahead late in the game.
 
In the top of the ninth, Lynchburg’s Matt Hague sliced a liner down the right-field line.  Nick Van Stratten stalked it all the way to the chalk, and then laid out with a full-extension face-first dive.  The ball landed just out of his reach, and caromed away from Van Stratten for a triple.
 
But closer Brandon Sisk was not to be denied.  He immediately bounced back with two consecutive strikeouts and a liner to first to escape the jam unscathed, and preserve the scoreless tie.
 
Then in the top of the 12th, the Hillcats again seemed poised to take the lead.  With two outs, Josh Harrison was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by Barry Bowden.    Jordy Mercer followed with a single up the middle.  Center fielder Derrick Robinson charged in fielded the wet ball and unfurled a beautiful throw home that nipped Mercer at the plate by inches.
 
The Rocks will look to punch their ticket to the Mills Cup Championship Series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.  Wilmington will send opening day starter Alex Caldera to the hill, while Lynchburg will counter with right-hander Nate Adcock.   

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