Blue Rocks Fall in Extras to Dash in Series Opener

Wilmington, DE- The series opener between the Wilmington Blue Rocks (36-43/5-4) and Winston-Salem Dash (48-32/7-3) needed to be decided in the tenth inning as the Rocks fell 6-3 Saturday night at Frawley Stadium. The Dash scored three runs in the top of the tenth to hand Wilmington the loss. D.J. Burt and Gabriel Cancel each drove in a run in the setback.
 

The top of the tenth started well for the Blue Rocks as reliever Justin Camp struck out the first two batters. However, Gavin Sheets drove in the go-ahead run for the Dash with a single to right field before Micker Adolfo hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to put the Rocks behind, 6-3. Wilmington was unable to rally in its half of the inning and suffered their first extra-inning loss of the season.
The Rocks erased a 3-0 deficit in the middle innings and got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out RBI single from Angelo Castellano to score Nick Heath from second to make it a 3-1 ballgame. In the sixth inning, Vance Vizcaino reached on an error to start the frame and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Blake Perkins . Burt followed with a triple to left-center field to plate Vizcaino to pull the Rocks within a run. A batter later Cancel lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Burt from third to knot the game at 3-3.
The Dash plated all three of their runs in the top of the fifth inning. Mitch Roman hit a sharp grounder to third, which deflected off the diving glove of Burt, and squeaked into left field to score two runs to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Roman scored on a passed ball to put the Rocks down 3-0.
The Blue Rocks and Dash continue the four-game series on Sunday, July 1 at Frawley Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m. with Wilmington sending righty Jace Vines (2-8, 5.61 ERA) to the mound while Winston-Salem calls upon lefty Tanner Banks (7-2, 2.70 ERA) Fans can tune into the game with Matt Janus and Cory Nidoh on 89.7 WGLS-FM.
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
Saturday's game between the Rocks and Dash marked just the second extra-inning game this season for the Blue Rocks. Their first was back on May 28 at home against Salem in which the Blue Rocks won 3-2. The game also is the only walk-off win of the season for the Blue Crew on the 2018 campaign. Wilmington is tied with Frederick for the fewest extra-inning games played in the Carolina League this season.
D.J. Burt has enjoyed the home cooking at Frawley Stadium. Burt was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple on Saturday night. The utility player is now 7-for-16 through the first six games of the nine game homestand. Burt has amassed five runs, a double, two triples and an RBI. He has also stolen two bases to improve his total to 20 on the year which is second on the team and third in the Carolina League.
Blue Rocks starter Daniel Tillo had another good night on the mound. Tillo worked five full innings giving up only five hits, two earned runs and two walks while racking up six strikeouts. In his last three starts, Tillo has only given up three earned runs. The lefty has only given up more than two earned runs only twice in his eight starts this season with the Blue Rocks. The performance on Saturday night marked the sixth time the left-hander has lasted five innings or more.