The Wilmington Blue Rocks returned home off of the road with a four game losing streak but it seems a home opener was what the doctor ordered for the Rocks. As the Blue Rocks beat the Lynchburg Hillcats 4-2 in their home opener and also broke their four game losing streak.

The Blue Rocks hitters still are having a problem with striking out this season. The Rocks hitters for this game struck out six times but for the young season, the team has struck 84 times.

The Rocks offense came alive late to get them the win at home but let us look how they got to that point.

The first two innings was a pitching duel between Lynchburg’s Zach Plesac and Blue Rocks Anthony Bender who held both their opponents scoreless.

Then in the third inning, the scoring finally started but it was Lynchburg who was the first one to get on the board.

Thanks to error by the Blue Rocks in the inning, the Hillcats had one man in scoring position when shortstop Alexis Pantoja doubled on a fly ball to make it 1-0.

There would be no scoring in the fourth and fifth innings but the Rocks did make a pitching change in the fourth.

Rocks starter Anthony Bender exited the game in the top of the fifth and Ofreidy Gomez came in ready to provide some relief for the team.

Bender stats for the game were 4 innings pitched , 5 hits, 1 run, 2 BBs and 2 Ks.

In the bottom of the sixth, Rocks would tie the game up at one with one swing of the bat. The lead off hitter of the inning, left fielder Rudy Martin swung a home run right out of Frawley Stadium to put the game at a 1-1 tie.

Then in the bottom of seventh Hillcats starter Zach Plesac exited the game with 6 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 run,1 ER, 4 BBs, 4 Ks and 1 home run.

This is also where the Rocks would take the lead for the first time in the game, thanks to catcher Xavier Fernandez doubling on a fly ball to score right fielder  Kort Peterson to make it 2-1 in the home team’s favor.

Hillcats would score off Rocks Gomez wild pitch which tied the game at two and it would also end the day for him.

Gomez stats were 3.1 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 ER, 6 BB’s & 6 Ks.

Walker Sheller would come in for relief for Gomez and pitched pretty well going 1.2 innings, 1 hit and was awarded with win in the game.

The game winning runs for the Rocks was in the eight inning when first baseman Chris DeVito singled on a line drive to score third baseman Emmanuel Rivera and Rudy Martin.

The two runs gave the Rocks a 4-2 lead heading into the ninth where Wilmington’s Sheller got the job done and shutdown the Hillcats hitters to seal the game.

Rocks (3-5) look for two straight wins at home when they face the Hillcats at 7:05 pm ET on Friday.

 

Home Opener Highlights: