Blue Rocks Can't Catch Up to Dash

Winston-Salem, N.C.- The Wilmington Blue Rocks (60-62/29-23) struck early but, ultimately fell to the Winston-Salem Dash (72-48/31-19) by a 4-3 margin on Friday night at BB&T Ballpark. Despite the loss, the Rocks did not lose any ground in the Carolina League North standings as the Hillcats fell to the Keys, keeping Wilmington within two and a half games of the division lead. Gabriel Cancel led the offense going 2-for-4 with two singles, a run, and an RBI.   

The Blue Rocks struck first in the top of the first. Blake Perkins started the game with a lead-off double. D.J. Burt grounded out to the pitcher while Perkins advanced to third on the play. Cancel followed up with a single to right to score Perkins and put the Rocks ahead 1-0. Emmanuel Rivera lined a triple into right to score Cancel and extend the lead to 2-0.
Winston-Salem responded in the bottom of the first. Nick Madrigal roped a single through the gap in right to score Luis González and put the Dash on the board 2-1. The Dash took the lead in the bottom of the second. After Gavin Sheets hit a lead-off single, Zach Remillard hit a two-run blast into left to give the Dash the 3-2 lead. Later in the inning with runners on second and third with two outs, Madrigal hit a ground ball that was deflected off of Blue Rocks' pitcher Andres Sotillet , Madrigal reached base safely while Yeyson Yrizarri scored to make it a 4-2 ballgame.  
Wilmington attempted a rally in the top of the ninth. After a Vance Vizcaino walk, Nathan Esposito singled up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. Meibrys Viloria hit a sacrifice fly deep into left to bring Vizcaino home and cut the lead to 4-3. Jackson Lueck tried to keep the game alive but ended up grounding into an inning-ending double play.
The Blue Rocks will continue the series against the Dash on Saturday, August 18 with a double header starting at 5:30 p.m. with the resumption of the July 3 game that was suspended in the top of the fifth inning with runners on first and second, no outs, and the Blue Rocks leading 4-1. Both teams will have pitchers coming out of the bullpen to resume the game. A full, nine-inning game will follow with right-hander Ofreidy Gomez (4-10, 3.83 ERA) starting on the mound for Wilmington. Winston-Salem will send southpaw John Parke (4-3, 4.08 ERA) to oppose him. Fans can tune into all the action with Jack Keffer on the call on 89.7 WGLS-FM.     
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE
The loss on Friday night pushed the Rocks' losing streak to a season high five games. The longest streak beforehand was a four-game skid that lasted from May 29 to June 1. The last time the Blue Rocks lost exactly five in a row was in 2017 from July 18 to July 23. Wilmington ended that streak with a 3-1 win against the Salem Red Sox on July 25.
Blue Rocks' reliever Anthony Bender has become the go-to pitcher out of the bullpen for Wilmington in the second half. On Friday night, the righty pitched three innings allowing only two hits, no runs or walks while also earning a strikeout. In his last 10 appearances, Bender has 18.1 innings pitched, giving up only 17 hits, one walk, and three earned runs for an impressive 1.47 ERA. He also has sixteen strikeouts in that span.       
With a triple on Friday night, Emmanuel Rivera is now tied for the team lead in triples this season. Rivera joins fellow infielder D.J. Burt for the lead with five on the season. The third baseman pushes his career total in triples to 15. Rivera is also second in doubles with 17 and in RBI with 49. In both of those categories, Rivera sits behind Gabriel Cancel who leads with 26 doubles and 71 RBI.
  
 
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