Dziedzic Leads Rocks To 5-0 Win Over High Desert
Surprise, AZ - The Wilmington Blue Rocks have had very little trouble scoring runs during Spring Training. However, until yesterday, the pitching staff was allowing opponents to do the same. Monday's story was pitching, as the Rocks beat the High Desert Mavericks 5-0 in their most dominant team performance of the spring to improve to 4-4-1.
Jonathan Dziedzic led the way on the mound for the Blue Crew by pitching 5 shutout innings. He was in command from the very first pitch of the game and allowed just one hit over his 5 innings of work. He also struck out 4 and did not walk a batter. Dziedzic was a 13th Round draft pick of the Royals in 2013 and went 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA in 11 starts last season for the Idaho Falls Chukars. After Dziedzic left the game, Zeb Sneed took over and pitched two more scoreless innings, letting up only 2 base knocks.
Offensively, the Rocks continued to do what they've done best the entire spring: hit. Daniel Rockett impressed again and hit a home run during his 1-3 day. Fred Ford collected a pair of hits in 4 tries and also scored 2 runs. Mark Donato, who spent most of last season with the Lexington Legends, also went 2-4 yesterday and drove in a run; one of those 2 hits was a double. Catcher Micah Gibbs contributed a base hit, a run and a walk in three plate appearances.
At the Major League level, the Kansas City Royals fell to the Colorado Rockies 8-2, and only two former Blue Rocks made an impact. Both Johnny Giavotella and Alex Gordon put together 1-3 days for the Royals. Giavotella doubled and walked, while Gordon drove in a run, walked, and scored a run.
In Triple-A Omaha's 5-4 win at Tacoma, Cheslor Cuthbert led the offense with a 1-3 day, including a home run, while Everett Teaford pitched a pair of scoreless innings. Double-A Northwest Arkansas beat Jackson 5-1 and the box score was filled with former Blue Rocks. Justin Trapp went 2-3 with an RBI, a run, and 2 stolen bases. Jorge Bonifacio went 2-4 with a double, a run, and an RBI. Jason Adams was solid on the mound for the Naturals, pitching 4 shutout innings and striking out 4. Cody Fassold and Ali Williams both pitched 2 scoreless frames and allowed one hit each.
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