Pelicans Use Four-Run Sixth to Send Rocks to Ninth Straight Loss
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Coming off their first scheduled off-day since July 14, the Blue Rocks dropped their series opener to Myrtle Beach 6-1 on Tuesday. Wilmington fell to 52-56 with the loss, while the Pelicans moved up to 63-45. Cael Brockmeyer had a perfect night at the plate for Myrtle Beach, going 2-for-2 with two walks, one RBI, and two runs, while Alfredo Escalera drove in the lone score of the game for the Blue Crew.
Myrtle Beach got the scoring started with a pair of runs in the second. Jason Vosler and Brockmeyer reached to begin the inning with a single and walk respectively. Blue Rocks starter Luis Rico settled down to retire the next two men, but with Vosler and Brockmeyer in scoring position, Carlos Penalver blooped a base hit that scored both runners, giving the Pelicans a 2-0 lead.
The Rocks got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth. Humberto Arteaga got things started with a single to lead off the frame. Mauricio Ramos followed by flying out, and Ryan O'Hearn went down on strikes right after him, so Arteaga still found himself at first with two away. Escalera then came up with some two-out magic, doubling to score Arteaga, cutting the Myrtle Beach lead to 2-1 in the process.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Rocks escaped a big-time jam in a weird way. With runners on first and second with nobody out, Victor Caratini dunked a ball over Arteaga's head at second base, but Arteaga ran it down. Both runners didn't realize the ball was caught, and Arteaga, Jack Lopez, and O'Hearn turned in the third triple play of the 2015 season.
The Pelicans broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. Brockmeyer produced the first run of the frame with a single that plated Vosler. That knock spelled the end of the day for Rico, who was replaced by Matt Alvarez. The next two tallies of the inning came around on a double by Trey Martin, who then scored on a base hit off the bat of Chesney Young. Pin-Chieh Chen grounded out to end the inning, but the Pelicans exited the frame with a 6-1 advantage, where the score would stay to end the ballgame.
The Rocks and Pelicans continue their three-game series on Wednesday. First pitch from Myrtle Beach is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and fans can listen to the broadcast on 89.7 WGLS-FM. Wilmington returns home on August 11 when they open up a three-game set against Carolina. For tickets, call 302-888-BLUE, or visit www.bluerocks.com.
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
With a loss on Tuesday, Wilmington has now dropped nine consecutive games. The losing streak began on July 26 against Lynchburg. The Rocks were then swept by Winston-Salem and Carolina before dropping the opener to Myrtle Beach. The nine-game skid is the longest for the Blue Crew since July 14 through July 23 of 2013. The franchise's longest losing streak is 10 games, which they have done twice. The most recent 10-gamer lasted from May 27 to June 4 of 2000, meaning the Rocks will have a chance to make infamous history with their next game.
Tuesday marked the third time this season that Wilmington turned a triple play. Victor Caratini popped out to Humberto Arteaga with runners on first and second, and with both runners being unaware that the ball was caught, the Rocks were able to collect two force outs to get the tri-killing. The first time the Blue Crew turned three this year was on April 19 in a game against Frederick at Frawley Stadium. Their most recent triple play occurred on June 9 at Winston-Salem. The trio of triple plays are already a franchise record for most in a single season. Wilmington produced one triple play all of last season. They have now turned four triple plays in a two-year span after spinning just a pair in the 16 previous seasons.
For whatever reason, Matt Alvarez does not like pitching in Myrtle Beach. The New Jersey native made his first appearance of the season at Ticketreturn.com Field on April 11. In that contest, Alvarez entered in the bottom of the 10th inning with the Rocks leading by two. The righty yielded three scores to hand the Pelicans a walk-off victory. With two-thirds of an inning and two earned runs on Tuesday, Alvarez has now pitched one full frame at Myrtle Beach this season, allowing five total earned runs, as opposed to seven earned tallies in 37 innings elsewhere in 2015. Alvarez is a product of Boston College, and was signed as a non-drafted free agent in August of 2013.
Although Luis Rico was saddled with the loss, the lefty did give the Rocks some much needed length on Tuesday. Rico's 5.1 innings against the Pelicans made Tuesday his longest outing since July 2 against Lynchburg, when he worked 5.2 frames. Between those outings, the Venezuelan native tossed five innings twice, and included outings of two, three, and 4.1 frames as well. The longest Rico has worked into a contest this season is six innings, which he has done twice, and most recently on June 9 at Winston-Salem. Command has been the issue for Rico as of late. With three more walks on Tuesday, he has now dished out 16 free passes in his last 21.2 innings pitched.
THEY SAID IT:
Outfielder Alfredo Escalera:
"Yeah (I'm starting to get into a rhythm, at the plate). It's a new league. I was hitting pretty good in Low-A, and I got here, (and) you put a little bit of pressure on yourself. I'm just trying to get into the rhythm I was (in) down (in Lexington) and trying to get comfortable in this league. It's definitely a different league."
"Everything is different; even the uniforms are different. You've got to get used to everything. (Hitting Coach Abraham Nunez) was with me last year, so I know how he works and how he likes to work with the guys, so I've been working with him. My swing has been feeling good, so it's more pitch selection than anything."
"(Lots of hitters fresh from Low-A) is part of (the offensive struggles). We all got up here and we want to do good…We've got to do those adjustments and start hitting the way (we can) because we were hitting well down (in Lexington)."
The bus ride (to Myrtle Beach) is not the best one, so the legs get a little bit tired, but we got that day off. I don't think that has to do much with (the loss tonight), but we'll shake this game off and take it tomorrow."
Second Baseman Humberto Arteaga:
"I made the catch (on the triple play). I got hurt on that one, but I hear the guys calling out 'two, two, two!' so I threw it to second (base). I wasn't expecting to make (that kind of play) but it happens."
"With those fly balls, it's in-between (myself and Elier Hernandez) and we're not sure who's going to catch it…(plays like that) just happen."
"(The offensive problems are) not really (related to lots of guys recently coming from Low-A). I think everyone can hit on this team. I have seen it. This time of the year, we're starting to put pressure on ourselves and we want to put too much pressure on ourselves (instead) of just playing the game."