The Wilmington Blue Rocks hung on to win 6-5 over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Wednesday at Calvin Falwell Field.
The Hillcats made the game a thrilling one in the late innings of the game as they scored four runs late to make it a one run game. The Rocks were leading most of the game with a healthy lead.
The win for the Blue Rocks put the team four games out of first place with six games left as they push for the playoffs.
Rocks starting pitcher Ofreidy Gomez had a solid start in the win going six innings, 10 hits, one run, one earned run, one walk, eight strikeouts and earned his sixth win of the season.
The offensive standouts in the game for the Rocks were left fielder Vance Vizcaino, shortstop Angelo Castellano, DH Emmanuel Rivera and right fielder Rudy Martin.
Vizcaino had two runs, three hits and three RBIs in four at bats in the win.
Castellano had one run, one hit, one RBI, one walk and one strikeout in three at bats in the win.
Rivera had one run, two hits and one strikeout in four at bats in the win.
Martin had two hits, one RBI and two strikeouts in five at bats in the win.
Hillcats Strike First
The Hillcats were the first team to put a run on the board as their right fielder Trenton Brooks doubled to right field which scored left fielder Mitch Longo to give their team a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Rocks Score Four in Second Inning
The Rocks answered back in the top of the second inning with four runs of their own which gave the team a 4-1 lead.
The first three runs in the inning came from the bat of Rocks left fielder Vance Vizcaino who hit a triple to center field which scored DH Emmanuel Rivera, catcher Meibrys Viloria and first baseman Travis Jones.
The other run in the inning came from Rocks shortstop Angelo Castellano who hit a line drive single to center field to score Vizcaino.
Rocks Add Two In The Fourth Inning
Rocks padded on to their lead in the fourth inning when the team added two more runs to increase their lead to 6-1.
The first run of the inning came from right fielder Rudy Martin who singled to center field to score Vizcaino.
The next run in the inning came from Rocks third baseman D.J. Burt who hit a sacrifice fly to score Castellano.
Rocks starting pitcher Ofreidy Gomez kept the Lynchburg hitters unbalanced for five straight innings after giving up a run in the first inning.
Gomez exited after the sixth inning going six innings, 10 hits, one run, one earned run, one walk, eight strikeouts and earned his sixth win of the season.
Lynchburg’s Comeback Attempt
The Hillcats were down but they were not out as the team scored a run in the seventh to decrease Rocks lead to 6-2.
The run came from Hillcats center fielder Austen Wade who hit a line drive double to right field which scored Trenton Brooks.
The seventh inning was Rocks reliever Julio Pinto’s time and he went one inning, two hits, two runs, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, the Hillcats came too close for comfort as they eliminated Rocks healthy lead to a one run 6-5 lead.
The first run in the eighth for the Hillcats came from third baseman Nolan Jones who hit a double to right field which scored second baseman Jorma Rodriguez.
The next two runs in the inning came from Hilcats Trenton Brooks who hit a line drive single to center field which scored left fielder Mitch Longo and Jones.
The relievers for the Rocks in the inning were Andrew Beckwith and Bryan Brickhouse.
Beckwith went 0.2 innings, three hits, two runs, two earned runs, one walk and one strikeout for the game.
Brickhouse Closes the Door On Hillcats Comeback
In the ninth inning, it was all up to Bryan Brickhouse to stop Hillcats momentum and close the door on the win for the Rocks.
Brickhouse did just that as he went 1.1 innings, one walk, two strikeouts and earned his 13th save of the year.
Rocks close the series out with Lynchburg tomorrow at Calvin Falwell Field with first pitch being at 6:30 pm ET.