The Wilmington Blue Rocks bounced back from their 10-0 trouncing on Friday against the Potomac Nationals with an 11-5 victory on Sunday against those same pesky Nationals.

This was supposed to be game one of a double header for the two teams but the weather decided to rain on game two.

Wilmington is not a exactly a team known for putting a lot runs on the board, this season the team had five games ( two in the month of June) where the Rocks hitters put double digit runs on the board.

Blue Rocks offense came alive Sunday as catcher  Meibrys Viloria led the lineup with hitting a grand slam ( third home run of the year) in the third inning to blow the game open for the Rocks.

Before Viloria had his grand slam in the third inning, it was second baseman ( who was playing shortstop in Sunday’s game) Gabriel Cancel who homered in the second inning to put the momentum on the Rocks side.

Center fielder Khalil Lee also had a nice day offensively as he had three RBIs in the game.

Viloria had four RBIs in the game and Cancel finished with three RBIs in the win.

The Blue Rocks rocked a major league pitcher Jeremy Hellickson who was rehabbing for the Washington Nationals.

Hellickson went 4.2 innings,  nine hits, 11 runs, 11 ER, three walks, four strikeouts and two homeruns.

The Rocks offense might of came to play today but it was not looking good for them in the early innings of the game.

Rocky Start

In the bottom of the first inning, the Nationals hitters were feeling good with scoring four runs out of the gate.

It all started with Nationals first baseman Aldrem Corredor who doubled on sharp fly ball to center which scored DH Ian Sagdal, catcher Tres Barrera and right fielder  Rhett Wiseman which made the score 3-0 in the Nationals favor.

The scoring did not stop there, Nationals left fielder Nick Banks singled on a fly ball to left field which scored Corredor and the Nationals lead increased to 4-0.

 

Offense Wakes Up

In the second inning, the Rocks offense finally put a run on the board with second baseman Gabriel  Cancel’s solo home run ( fourth home run of the year) to left field which  decreased the Nationals lead to 4-1.

It was only one run but this is where the game change because this score gave the Rocks momentum that they badly needed.

After a shaky first inning, Rocks starting pitcher Nolan Watson did not surrender a run in the second inning.

Then in the top of the third inning the game was blown open by one of swing of the bat by a Wilmington hitter.

The scoring in top of the third inning started with center fielder Khalil Lee singling on a ground ball to right field which scored  left fielder Blake Perkins to decrease the Nationals lead to 4-2.

Rocks had two outs in the third inning when catcher Meibrys Viloria hit a grand slam to right field which scored Lee, Cancel and third baseman Travis Jones to give the Rocks a 6-4 lead.

Rocks lineup was on fire and the scoring continued in the fourth inning when Khalil Lee doubled on a fly ball to right field which scored DH Vance Vizcaino and Perkins.

Lee’s double made the score 8-4 in Wilmington’s favor and the next batter Gabriel Cancel added to that lead.

Cancel singled on a line drive to center field which scored shortstop ( played second base in the game Sunday) D.J. Burt and Lee and made Wilmington’s lead 10-4.

The Nationals were not giving up just yet and in the bottom of the fourth inning, second baseman Bryan Mejia singled which scored shortstop David Masters which decreased Wilmington’s lead to 10-5.

Rocks starting pitcher Watson was able to minimized the damage in the fourth and only give up the one run.

Watson’s day would end there with four innings pitched, 11 hits, five runs, five ER and four walks.

Cristian Castillo would relieve Watson and was dominant with three innings pitched, one hit and earned the win ( third win of the year).

In the top of the fifth inning, Rocks would answer to the Nats score in the last inning with D.J. Burt singling to center field which scored first baseman Chris DeVito and increased Wilmington’s lead to 11-5.

After the fifth inning, both team’s pitching took control of the game and the Rocks took home a seven inning 11-5 victory on Sunday.

Blue Rocks return home tomorrow to face the Lynchburg Hillcats at Frawley Stadium. First pitch is at 6:35pm ET.