Blue Rocks Finish Series With Huge Win

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were able to bounce back from two rough losses yesterday to split their eight-game series with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday afternoon, 5-3.

A victory was put in doubt in the top of the first inning when Seth Shuman got into some early trouble. Wilmington’s starter began the game by hitting leadoff batter Tanner Murphy with a pitch. Murphy would be driven in along with Rowdey Jordan when J.T. Schwartz hit a three-run homer.

Luckily for the Blue Rocks, these would be the only runs the Cyclones scored as Shuman would settle down and end his outing with four hits and five strikeouts in five innings.

On the offensive side, Wilmington would get going in the bottom of the second when Omar Meregildo hit his 11th home run of the season to get his team on the board. Kevin Strohschein would drive in their second run of the afternoon with a sac fly to bring Onix Vega home.

Vega would unfortunately be taken out at the end of the third inning with an apparent injury after his second at-bat. Israel Pineda was called upon to take over as the Blue Rock’s catcher for the rest of the day.

Pineda became the game’s difference maker in the bottom of the fifth inning when he got up with two outs and men on second and third with the chance to take the lead. Prior to this, Yasel Antuna tied up the matchup with a sac fly. Pineda took advantage of the situation and hit a two-RBI single to put Wilmington on top.

Pitching was what really locked down the victory for the Blue Rocks, as Shuman, Lucas Knowles, Malvin Pena, and Jose A. Ferrer would combine for 11 strikeouts while allowing only four hits and one walk.

The Blue Rocks will now have a day off and then faceoff against the division leading Aberdeen IronBirds in another home and away series. It will kick off on Tuesday, June 21 in Wilmington with first pitch set at 6:35 p.m