Three is magic number for Rocks' defense

A triple play might usually be thought of as a feat of precision. But Class A Advanced Wilmington's third one of the season was not quite as graceful.

No. 14 Royals prospect Ryan O'Hearn, Jack Lopez and Humberto Arteaga combined on a triple play, but the Blue Rocks eventually fell, 6-1, to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field.

"I've never been a part of a triple play before, so it was cool to get out of a jam, get out of the inning," O'Hearn said. "It was kind of cool how the inning ended so quickly."

The jam began when southpaw starter Luis Rico (5-7) walked Jason Vosler and allowed a single by Cael Brockmeyer to start the fourth. Then Cubs' No. 23 prospect Victor Caratini skied the first pitch he saw into shallow right field.

"With those fly balls, it's in between [myself and right fielder Elier Hernandez] and we're not sure who's going to catch it," Arteaga said.

The second baseman tracked the ball down, and with a higher premium on getting the out than a possible injury, made the catch. Arteaga then tripped on the Royals' No. 13 prospect -- who slid while trying to make the play -- and tumbled down with the ball.

"I got hurt on that one, but I hear the guys calling out '2, 2, 2,' so I threw it to second," the 21-year-old Venezuelan said. "I wasn't expecting to make [that kind of play], but it happens." 

O'Hearn and the Pelicans baserunners couldn't tell what transpired in the outfield, so Vosler moved to third and Brockmeyer to second.

"There was definitely an awkward moment when we didn't know if he caught it or not," the 22-year-old first baseman said.

Once O'Hearn saw the shortstop Lopez make the catch at second, he figured there was a forceout and ran to first for the final out to seal his first such feat.

Wilmington turned three on April 19 against Frederick, with Lopez keying that play as well, and again on June 9 vs. Winston-Salem.

As for the whereabouts of the ball from the milestone moment?

"I don't know. I used it to warm up the next inning?" O'Hearn said with a laugh. "Honestly, at that point, we were trying to win the game, so I wasn't really thinking about that."

No. 19 Royals prospect Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado collected the Blue Rocks' only run with an RBI double in the fourth.

Pelicans starter Jonathan Martinez (8-2) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out six in six frames.