Wilmington Blue Rocks

Khalil Lee’s 3 RBIs Help Rocks Crush Hillcats 9-2

After taking a series win on the road from the Salem Red Sox this weekend, the Wilmington Blue Rocks kept the ball rolling at home as the team won 9-2 in the first game of the series against the Lynchburg Hillcats.

The main firepower on the offensive side for the Rocks was outfielder Khalil Lee who had three RBIs, two runs, one home run and stole a base in the game.

The Rocks pitching was also on point in the this game with starter Arnaldo Hernandez only giving up two runs in the win. Reliever Carter Hope also chipped in four brilliant innings to earn a save.

It all started in the top of the first inning where the Hillcats struck first on the board with Lynchburg’s center fielder Connor Capel doubling to right field to score right fielder Jodd Carter.

Rocks starting pitcher Arnaldo Hernandez settled down after giving up the one run and was able to get the next two batters out which ended the inning.

Then it was the Blue Rocks turn to even up the score and they did just that.

Outfielder Khalil Lee changed the game in one swing when he hit a home run which scored third baseman D.J. Burt.

The funny thing is the Rocks promotion of the game was a Khalil Lee poster and it is fitting that Lee posterized a ball out of Frawley Stadium.

Lee’s home run had the Rocks taking a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning of the game.

Then in top of the second inning, Lynchburg came back to tie the game at two with second baseman Dillion Persinger’s triple which scored shortstop Luke Wakamatsu.

This would be the last time the Hillcats would score in the game.

The Rocks offense was feeling it in the bottom of the second inning as the team scored sevens runs to put a commanding 9-2 lead on the scoreboard.

The Blue Rocks scoring in the second started with left fielder Nick Heath hitting a double to right field which scored second baseman Gabriel Cancel and the lead was 3-2 at this point.

Then Lee walked and that scored first baseman Chris DeVito which made the lead 4-2.

Rocks Right fielder Kort Peterson singled to center field which scored Heath and Burt and the lead was 6-2.

The next batter who brought in a run was DH Chase Vallot who drew a walk which scored Lee and the lead increased to 7-2.

Rocks catcher Meibrys Viloria joined the scoring party as well when he hit a line drive single to right field which scored Peterson and the lead was now 8-2.

Devito scored the last run in the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Vallot which made the lead 9-2

Then the pitching took over for both teams as after the second inning neither teams scored the rest of the way.

Rocks starter Arnaldo Hernandez went 5 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 1 BB and 6 Ks.

Carter Hope relieved Hernandez after the fifth inning and went 4 innings and gave up 4 hits.

The pitching and early offense led the Rocks to a 9-2 opening series win and they look to continue their winning streak.

Rocks possibly could push their winning streak to five in a row as tomorrow’s match up against the Hillcats is a double header with the first pitch at 5:05 pm ET.

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