Blue Rocks Win After Long 13-Inning Effort
In the professional baseball world, August is often the month that separates the contenders and the pretenders.
In the professional baseball world, August is often the month that separates the contenders and the pretenders.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are one of those teams trying to prove that they are contenders in the South Atlantic League South. They begin their August with a six-game stretch against the one-seeded Aberdeen IronBirds. The Blue Rocks entered the series as the second seed in the division, and were eight games back of Aberdeen before the start of the series on Tuesday, August 2.
In the first game of the series, the Blue Rocks were able to gain a game on the IronBirds in a 9-8, 13-inning victory.
For most of the beginning half of the game, the bats were quiet. The starting pitchers of both teams began the game strong, as neither the IronBirds’ Jake Lyons or the Blue Rocks’ Lucas Knowles allowed a run in the innings that each player pitched.
Aberdeen decided to replace their starting pitcher with reliever Dan Hammer at the start of the bottom of the fifth inning. The decision backfired on the IronBirds, as Hammer walked three of the first four batters he faced. He then hit Jeremy Ydens with a pitch while the bases were loaded, which brought Onix Vega home to give the Blue Rocks a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, the IronBirds tied the score up at 1-1. Similarly to the Blue Rocks’ first score, the run was a product of pitching mistakes made by a relieving pitcher. Andrew Alverez threw two wild pitches, which allowed an IronBirds’ baserunner to advance to both third base and home plate.
Wilmington answered quickly to Aberdeen’s score in the bottom of the seventh. They tallied on two runs to put them in front 3-1. The lead did not stand, as the Blue Rocks sacrificed their advantage by giving up four runs in the top of the eighth frame.
Aberdeen gave one of those runs back to Wilmington in the eighth inning when a balk by IronBird reliever Wes Robertson allowed Onix Vega to score. The score was 5-4 in favor of the visiting IronBirds heading into the ninth inning.
Orlando Ribalta took control of the mound for the Blue Rocks in the ninth inning. He did not allow the opposing team to score any runs, which gave his team life. Jordy Barley was inches away from winning the game after trying to score off of a Drew Millas single, but he was called out and the team had to settle for extra innings with the score knotted up at 5-5. Although, the game was far from over from that point on.
The two teams matched each other run for run for three straight innings. The game was not decided until the thirteenth inning, which featured the Blue Rocks walking off the game with a 9-8 victory thanks to a Drew Mendoza RBI single. The team is now only seven games behind Aberdeen with five head-to-head games left to play in this series.
Blue Rocks Secure Series Victory Over Hudson Valley In 4-3 Win
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades in the final game of the series by a score of 4-3.
8th-Inning Rally Pushes The Blue Rocks On Top 7-4
WILMINGTON, DE - A game-winning rally in the eighth was enough to give the Wilmington Blue Rocks (3-5, 33-40) a 7-4 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades (4-4, 42-30) on Saturday, June 28 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Pride Powers Wilmington To 11-0 Victory Over The Renegades
WILMINGTON, DE - On Pride Night at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, the Wilmington Blue Rocks pride shined through in an 11-0 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades. Prior to the night's originally scheduled game, the Blue Rocks and Renegades resumed yesterday's suspended game; concluding in a 2-0 win for Hudson
Blue Rocks Stumble In 10-3 Loss To Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades by a final score of 10-3 on Wednesday, June 25 at Frawley Stadium. The loss knotted the series up against the Renegades at one game apiece.
Travis Sykora Locks Down A 1-0 Victory For Wilmington Over Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (31-38) knocked off the Hudson Valley Renegades (40-28) by a final score of 1-0 on Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium in the first of a six game series between the two teams.
Blue Rocks Conclude Asheville Series With 9-0 Loss
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (0-3, 30-38) dropped the series finale against the Asheville Tourists (3-0, 32-36) by a score of 9-0 on Sunday, June 22 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
One-Run Deficit Trend Continues For Wilmington In 4-3 Loss To Asheville
WILMINGTON, DE - A ninth inning groundout from Lucas Spence was the difference in the Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-3 loss to the Asheville Tourists on Saturday, June 21 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Blue Rocks Drop Second-Half Opener To Asheville 3-2
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks fell 3-2 to the Asheville Tourists in the first game of the second half on Friday, June 20 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Wilmington Falters 3-2 In A 12-Inning Affair With Asheville
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (30-35) were defeated by the Asheville Tourists (29-36) by a final score of 3-2 in 12 innings on Wednesday, June 18 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Blue Rocks Drop First Meeting Against Asheville, In Wilmington, 6-3
WILMINGTON, DE - The Blue Rocks returned home for the first time in over a week to begin their six-game series. Asheville took the first game by a final score of 6- 1.
Wilmington Lose 6-3 To Brooklyn
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (23-33) were defeated by the Brooklyn Cyclones (39-17) on Saturday, June 7 by a final score of 6-3 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Blue Rocks Drag Sean Manaea And Brooklyn In 8-2 Victory
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (23-32) knocked off the Brooklyn Cyclones (38-17) by a final score of 8-2 on Friday, June 6th at Frawley Stadium. The win knotted the six game series up at two wins apiece between the two South Atlantic League rivals.
Wilmington Pitchers Button Mash To No Avail, Losing 1-0 To Brooklyn
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (22-32) were defeated by the Brooklyn Cyclones (38-16) by a final score of 1-0 on Thursday, June 5 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Travis Sthele's Complete Game One-Hitter Leads Blue Rocks To 2-0 Win
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones by a score of 2-0.
Wilmington Stumbles In Brooklyn Series Opener; Losing 12-3
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (21-31) fell to the Brooklyn Cyclones (37-15) by a final score of 12-3 at Frawley Stadium on Tuesday, June 3rd in the first game of a six-game series.
Blue Rocks Fall In Series Finale With Jersey Shore; 6-4
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (14-25) were defeated by the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (14-23) on Sunday, May 18 by a final score of 6-4 in the final game of the six-game series between the South Atlantic League North Division rivals.
Stellar Pitching Secures Series Win For Wilmington In 2-0 Victory
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (14-24) defeated the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (13-23) by a final score of 2-0 on Saturday, May 17 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, marking the team’s fourth win in their last five games.
Wilmington Outlasts Jersey Shore In 2-1 Win
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (13-24) battled the elements in a 2-1 win over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (13-22) on Friday, May 16, at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Blue Rocks Split Doubleheader With Jersey Shore
WILMINGTON, DE - A complete game shutout from Travis Sthele and six-run first inning forced the Wilmington Blue Rocks (12-24) and Jersey Shore BlueClaws (13-21) to split the day-night doubleheader by scores of 1-0 in favor of Wilmington and 8-2 in favor of Jersey Shore on Thursday, May 15 at
Morning Shines Bright For Wilmington In 7-2 Win Over Jersey Shore
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks claimed the first game of their series with a 7-2 victory over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws on Education Day at Frawley Stadium.
Wilmington Close Out Their Series Against Hudson Valley With A 9-1 Loss
WILMINGTON, DE - A trio of home runs propelled the Hudson Valley Renegades (23-9) to a 9-1 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-23) in the series finale on Sunday, May 11.
Wilmington Suffer Extra-Innings Loss To Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-22) fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades (22-9) by a final score of 5-2 at Frawley Stadium on Saturday, May 10th.
Blue Rocks Fall 3-1 To Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - After suffering back-to-back 12–1 losses, the Wilmington Blue Rocks once again fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades by a score of 4–1.
Wilmington Falters Once More In 12-1 Loss To Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-20) fell to the Hudson Valley Renegades (20-9) by a final score of 12-1 at Frawley Stadium on Thursday, May 8th.
Wilmington Falters In 12-1 Loss To Hudson Valley
WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-19) were defeated by the Hudson Valley Renegades (19-9) by a final score of 12-1 on Wednesday, May 7 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.