Wilmington's Offense Silent in Loss

Woodbridge, VA - A game that started out as another pitching duel turned into a lopsided affair as the Wilmington Blue Rocks (32-40/1-1) fell 10-0 in the second game of the series against the Potomac Nationals (38-31/1-1) Friday night at Northwest Federal Field. Blue Rocks' starter Gerson Garabito allowed three earned runs and struck out six batters in six innings of work, but the Blue Rocks were held to just four hits in the setback as the series evened at one game apiece.
 

The contest started in favor of the pitchers as both Potomac's starter Ben Braymer and Garabito exchanged scoreless innings through the first three innings. Wilmington did threaten in the first inning and loaded the bases. Khalil Lee singled with two outs before Gabriel Cancel and Travis Jones drew walks to position the Rocks to strike first, but Braymer was able to get a strikeout to end the Rocks' threat.
The P-Nats were able to figure out Garabito in the fourth inning after the righty struck out five batters through the first three innings. Potomac got on the board with a Rhett Wiseman RBI double before Nick Banks scored a pair of runs on a single to make it a 3-0 deficit for the Blue Rocks.
Wilmington was unable to generate much offense against Braymer who tossed six scoreless innings and allowed just five base runners. Potomac broke the game open and scored seven runs in the eighth inning. The P-Nats sent 13 men to the plate and scored a run on Tres Barrera's RBI single before Banks hit a bases clearing triple to add three more runs. The scoring finished with back-to-back bases loaded walks and a sacrifice fly to put the Rocks behind by the final score of the game, 10-0.  
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The Wilmington Blue Rocks and P-Nats will play the third game of the series on Saturday, June 23 at 6:35 p.m. at Northwest Federal Field. Righty Nolan Watson makes his Carolina League debut while southpaw Matthew Crownover (3-5, 5.37 ERA) starts for Potomac. Fans can listen to the game as Matt Janus will have the call on 89.7 WGLS-FM.
PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:
It was just the second time this season the Blue Rocks have been shutout. The first time was back on April 27 when the Rocks fell to the Winston-Salem Dash by the score of 5-0. The two shutout losses are the fewest of any team in the Carolina League. Conversely, the Blue Rocks have three shutout victories this season.
Despite suffering the loss, Gerson Garabito turned in another start in which he allowed less than four earned runs. Garabito finished the game with three earned runs allowed on seven hits, walked two and struck out six in six innings of work. With the six strikeouts, Garabito now leads the Blue Rocks' pitching staff with 57 strikeouts on the year. The start also marked the 10^th time in his 14 total starts that he has allowed three earned runs or less.
Justin Camp has been strong out of the bullpen for the Blue Rocks and continued that trend in Friday's loss. The righty tossed a scoreless seventh inning and has not allowed a run in his last seven relief appearances (8.1 innings pitched). The last time Camp has allowed an earned run was back on May 20 at Salem.
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