Rocks Drop Another Rubber Match

Kinson, NC- A two-run single by Yanio Perez left the Wilmington Blue Rocks on the wrong end of a 5-4 decision with the Down East Wood Ducks on Sunday at Grainger Stadium. The two best teams in the Carolina League played three straight one-run games over the weekend in Kinston, but unfortunately for the Blue Crew they dropped two of those close calls. 

The single by Perez broke up a 3-3 tie with two outs and the bases loaded in the penultimate frame. Two straight two-out walks from Wilmington reliever Collin Snider  loaded the bases before Perez poked a 1-2 pitch up the middle for a seeing-eye single. 
The Rocks tried to rally in the ninth, putting two on with no outs and getting an RBI single from Colby Schultz . Brewer Hicklen  could not complete the comeback, however, as the outfielder whiffed with runners at the corners to end the game. 
Kyle Isbel homered for the Wilmington offense, which also got two hits from Schultz and Sebastian Rivero . 
The Rocks get a scheduled day off on Monday before opening a seven-game homestand on Tuesday against the Salem Red Sox. First pitch at Frawley Stadium is slated for 6:35 p.m. and tickets are available online at BlueRocks.com. Fans can catch all of the action with the Voice of the Blue Rocks, Cory Nidoh, on 89.7 WGLS-FM. 
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
The Blue Rocks continue to struggle in rubber matches this season. Wilmington dropped another one on Sunday at Down East and are now just 2-8 this season in series-deciding affairs. 
Wilmington's offense continues to be much more of a power threat on the road this season. Kyle Isbel launched a two-run homer on Sunday. It was the Blue Crew's 53rd long ball of the season, with 43 of those round-trippers coming on the road.