Blue Rocks Rebound For Big 7-1 Win

Fresh off a heartbreaking, extra innings 7-6 loss to the Brooklyn Cyclones on Thursday, August 11, the Wilmington Blue Rocks bounced back in a big way on Friday evening, putting together an all-around game on the mound and at the plate to take the win by a final score of 7-1 and even the series up and two games a piece.

The scoring got kicked off in the top of the third inning, with the Cyclones picking up where they left off on Thursday and striking first thanks to a two out, RBI single by Alex Ramirez to score William Lugo and make it a 1-0 ballgame.

Unfortunately for Brooklyn, the lead would be short-lived. The Blue Rocks turned right around in the bottom half of the third inning and scored three runs, all with two outs, to capture a 3-1 lead.

It all started with an RBI single by Jeremy De La Rosa to score Viandel Pena and tie the game up at one. Then, newly acquired prospect Robert Hassell III roped another single into centerfield, scoring De La Rosa and taking the lead, 2-1. Drew Millas kept the hitting party going with a base hit that flared off first baseman Joe Suozzi’s glove and scored Jose Sanchez to make it a 3-1 game.

What followed was yet another base hit by Yasel Antuna, however, a run failed to score due to Hassell not crossing the plate before Millas got thrown out at third. Manager Mario Lisson did not agree with this decision by the umpire, and got ejected from the game after debating the call.

The ejection did not deter the Blue Rocks, however. Their offense continued to explode in the bottom of the sixth, when Yasel Antuna blasted a long, two-run home run over the right field fence, his tenth of the season, extending the lead to 5-1.

The bottom of the seventh brought more runs for the Blue Rocks. Hassell continued his fantastic night at the plate with another RBI single to score Yoander Rivera, followed by a sacrifice fly by Antuna to make it a 7-1 game, which wound up being the final score.

Blue Rocks starter Dustin Saenz threw a gem, going six innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run. He also struck out four Cyclones’ on the evening.

Hassell and Antuna led the way at the plate, with Hassell going 3-4 with two RBI, and Antuna going 2-3 with a home run and three RBI.

With the series now all tied up at two games a piece, up next for Wilmington is game five of this six game series on Saturday, August 13, at 6:35 p.m.