Ninth Inning Rally Leads Rocks to Dramatic Win

Buies Creek, N.C. - After being held without a hit until the eighth inning, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (56-52 / 25-13) scored two runs in the ninth inning to stun the Buies Creek Astros (60-48 / 23-16) in the middle game of the series with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night at Jim Perry Stadium. Blue Rocks' starter Ofreidy Gomez turned in one of his best starts of the season and worked seven strong innings, allowed just one run on four hits.
 

The Blue Rocks rallied in the top of the ninth inning. Trailing 1-0, Rudy Martin drew a one-out walk before D.J. Burt singled to right to put runners at first and second. A double steal put both runners in scoring position before Gabriel Cancel hit an infield single up the third base line to tie the game at 1-1. Emmanuel Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Burt to give the Rocks a 2-1 advantage. Tyler Zuber entered in the bottom of the inning and tossed a clean frame to earn his seventh save as a Blue Rock.
The game was highlighted by the starting pitching with Gomez and Buies Creek's starter Brandon Bailey. Gomez worked seven strong innings, allowed just one run, which was on a solo home run in the first inning off the bat of Corey Julks. Bailey was dominant for the Astros and flirted with a no-hitter through the eighth inning before Vance Vizcaino reached on a two-out infield single to break it up.
The Blue Rocks and Astros play the rubber match the series on Thursday, August 2 at Jim Perry Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. as Wilmington will start righty Gerson Garabito (5-6, 3.51 ERA). The starter for Buies Creek is to be announced. Fans can listen to the game as Matt Janus and Cory Nidoh will have the call on 89.7 WGLS-FM.
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
The come-from-behind win for the Rocks marked the 27^th time Wilmington has come back from a deficit to earn the victory. It also was just the fourth time this season the Blue Rocks won a game when trailing after the eighth inning. Conversely, when the Rocks are leading after eight innings, they are an impressive 41-0. The Rocks are now on the verge of winning their fifth straight series with a win in the rubber match Wednesday.