Bubic Takes No-No Into Ninth as Rocks Win Twice on Thursday

Wilmington, DE - A wildly successful night at Frawley Stadium was very nearly an historic one for the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday. The Blue Crew started the evening with a walk-off win in the resumption of Wednesday's suspended game. That was only the appetizer though for Kris Bubic's  main course. The Wilmington lefty took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but had to settle for a one-hit complete game shutout as the Rocks beat Lynchburg, 1-0. 

Bubic allowed just one baserunner over the Hillcats' first eight trips to the plate. They flame-throwing prospect issued a lead-off walk in the fourth to Steve Kwan, who was caught stealing second just one out later. Bubic faced the minimum through eight innings. He fanned 11 on the night and needed only 99 pitches (67 strikes) to get 27 outs. 
Unfortunately for Bubic and the Blue Crew, he missed tossing a no-hitter by three outs. Jason Rodriguez opened the ninth with a sinking liner into center that dropped just in front of the hard-charging Tyler Hill . He then moved up to second on a wild pitch. Suddenly the Rocks' 1-0 lead hung in the balance with a runner in scoring position. But Bubic finished strong, retiring the final three batters courtesy of two strikeouts and a grounder to second. 
The Rocks scored the game's only run in the fourth. Kyle Isbel  opened the inning with a triple and came home two outs later courtesy of Nick Pratto's RBI-single. 
The night began with Wilmington taking a thriller in the resumption of Wednesday's suspended affair. Played resumed with Lynchburg having two runners on and nobody out, but Andrew Beckwith  quickly worked his way out of that pickle. 
Each team scored a run in the 10th, but Beckwith worked his way out of the 11th unscathed. That set the stage for a wild walk-off win. 
As per Minor League Baseball rules the frame began with a runner at second base. He was quickly sacrificed to third courtesy of a well-executed bunt by Isbel. After Hill was intentionally walked, Yapson Gomez struck out Pratto to give himself a path out of trouble. He closed the door on that escape route, however, when his back forced in the game-winning run. 
The Rocks open a brief three-game road trip to Down East on Friday at 7 p.m. Fans can catch all the action with the Voice of the Blue Rocks, Cory Nidoh, on 89.7 WGLS-FM. 
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
The Blue Crew continue to get it done in close games this season. The Rocks lead the Carolina League with 51 games decided by a single score in 2019 and have played 70 affairs with a margin of victory of two-or-less. Wilmington is an impressive 49-21 in those close calls including 37-14 in one-run decisions.
Wilmington has operated as a quality over quantity offensive attack all season long. The CL North First Half champs won despite getting out-hit 11-4 in the game that started on Wednesday and was completed Thursday evening. It marked the 31st time in 2019 the Rocks have won despite managing fewer knocks than their vanquished foe. The Blue Crew went 2-0 despite totaling just nine hits over 19 trips to the plate in the final two affairs of the series.
After going almost two decades without a no-hitter the Rocks were three outs away from posting a second in as many months on Thursday. Jonathan Bowlan was a second-inning defensive miscue shy of tossing a perfect game in the Blue Crew's 3-0 victory over the Carolina Mudcats on July 15 at Frawley Stadium. The right-hander allowed just six balls to escape the infield all night that evening. He did almost walk the first batter of the game, but ended up striking out Brice Turang on a full-count pitch. Bowlan did the same thing to Turang to end the game. The 22-year-old Memphis, TN native finished his night with nine strikeouts and threw 98 total pitches, 63 of which went for strikes. The only other no-hitter in franchise history also came at Frawley Stadium on May 2, 2000. That night former Major LeaguerBrian Sanches tossed a no-no against Lynchburg.