Blue Rocks Guilty As Win

The Wilmington Blue Rocks (18-17) rode good pitching and timely hitting against the Aberdeen IronBirds (19-18) on Friday, May 17, defeating them in game four of their six-game series by a final score of 6-4 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.

Aberdeen got off to a scorching start in the first inning. Enrique Bradfield Jr. got things started with a leadoff double, and his speed allowed him to steal third and score on a wild pitch for the first run of the game. Then, Creed Williems smashed a two-run home run well over the wall in left-center field to give the IronBirds an early 3-0 lead.

Wilmington’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth, as Maxwell Romero Jr. got the Rocks on the board by ripping a double into right field to score Paul Witt. In the very next at-bat, T.J. White came through with a RBI single that scored Romero Jr. from second and cut the deficit to 3-2.

The IronBirds added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, but it was no match for the Blue Rocks’ offensive explosion in the bottom of the seventh. First, Daylen Lile came through with a bases loaded, two-RBI single with two outs to score two runs and tie the game at four. Trey Harris III immediately followed with a long double to deep right field that scored two runs and gave the Rocks their first lead of the night, 6-4, one they wouldn’t relinquish.

Bryan Caceres got the start on the mound and battled. After giving up three runs in the first, the 24-year-old settled in and only allowed one run the rest of the way, totaling 5 ⅓ innings pitched, six hits and four runs while striking out six. The duo of Miguel Gomez and Jared Zinn came out of the pen and did their job, allowing just two hits and striking out four in 3 ⅔ innings. Gomez earned his first win of the season and Zinn shut the door in the ninth for his second save.

Lile and Harris III led the way at the plate, totaling four of the team’s six RBIs on the night. Romero Jr. and White also came through with one RBI apiece, as Witt and Johnathon Thomas were the only other Wilmington players to record a hit.

With the victory, the Blue Rocks have now won 13 home games, tied for second-most in the South Atlantic League. They also lead this six-game series against the IronBirds three games to one, and have a chance to secure the series win tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.