Four Run Sixth Inning Guides Blue Rocks To Win

After two defeating losses and a glimmer of hope on Friday, August 12, the Wilmington Blue Rocks have tipped the scales back in their favor after a 4-2 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Saturday, August 13.

The game started off with Brooklyn putting their best foot forward. Although scoreless in the first inning, second baseman Jose Peroza wasted no time in hitting his sixth home run of the season to get the team started.

However, the bases remained largely untouched for the next three innings as offensive for the Blue Rocks and the Cyclones remained tight, shutting down almost all production from those at bat and keeping the game 1-0.

At the top of the sixth, the Cyclones tallied one more run off of the bat of right fielder Alex Ramirez who singled off of a line drive to send in Matt Rudick and set the score 2-0.

This lead wouldn’t last long, however, as the sixth inning saw four runs from the Blue Rocks to sweep the game. After a single from both Jose Sanchez and No. 1 prospect Robert Hassell III, two wild pitches– in a row – from relief pitcher Nathan Lavender led to Sanchez recording the first score of the night for Wilmington. Hassell III was quick to follow off of an RBI single from designated hitter Yasel Antuna to tie the game 2-2.

The Blue Rocks wouldn’t stop there, Antuna soon moved to steal second, pushing Drew Millas over home plate for the lead. First baseman Drew Mendoza hit the final RBI of the night to send in Antuna and end the Blue Rocks' hot streak at 4-2.

Wilmington relief pitchers Garvin Alston and Gerardo Carrillo were quick to shut down any sort of attempted comeback from the Cyclones, leaving the Blue Rocks the victors at 4-2 for their third win of the series.

Ultimately, Wilmington’s starting pitcher, Lucas Knowles, was handed the win after holding the Cyclones to just a 2-0 lead over six innings of work. Relief pitcher Lavender was handed the loss for the Cyclones for the five hits and four runs that occurred during his 1.1 innings pitched.

Now leading the series, the Wilmington Blue Rocks will look to secure their series win over the Brooklyn Cyclones in their final match-up on Sunday, August 14, with first pitch starting at 1:05 p.m.