MILB, MLB, Wilmington Blue Rocks

Rocks Clinch First-Half Carolina League North Title & Get Extra Inning Walk Off Win Vs Fayetteville

(Photo: Wilmington Blue Rocks)

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are heading to the postseason for the first time since 2015, as the team clinched the first half Carolina League North title in their 4-3 extra inning walk off win against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Saturday at Frawley Stadium.

The RBIs in the game came from center fielder Blake Perkins (1) and right fielder Seuly Matias (1).

Three Blue Rocks players had runs in the win and they were DH Brewer Hicklen (2), shortstop Cristian Perez (1) and second baseman Ricky Aracena (1).

Six Wilmington hitters gained a hit in the win and they were Perkins (1), Hicklen (2), catcher MJ Melendez (1),Matias (1), Perez (1) and Aracena (1).

Left fielder Rudy Martin (1), Cristian Perez (1) and Ricky Aracena (1) each recorded a stolen base in the game.

The Blue Rocks were 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 14 men on base.

On the pitching side, Rocks starter Jackson Kowar had some bumps in the road in his outing, as he went six innings, eight hits,three runs, three earned runs,two walks and five strikeouts.

Josh Mitchell would come in for Kowar as he was dominate in the two innings he pitched with five strikeouts.

Tad Ratliff would be the next man up on the mound as he went one inning,one hit,one walk and one strikeout.

Bryan Brickhouse would close out the game for the pitching staff as he went one inning, one walk, two strikeouts and earned the win ( first win of the season).

Woodpeckers Strike First With Three Runs In First Inning

The Woodpeckers did not waste any time getting runs on the board, as the team scored three in the first inning.

The first run of the inning for Fayetteville came from Colton Shaver who would hit a line drive single to left field which would score Jacob Meyers to give their team a 1-0 lead.

The Woodpeckers last two runs of the inning came from Scott Schreiber who would hit a double to left field which would score Shaver and Jake Adams to extend their team’s lead to 3-0.

This would be the only time the Woodpeckers would score in the game.

Rocks Score Runs In Third Inning & Fifth To Close In On Lead

The Rocks were silent for two innings of this game but in the third inning, the lineup finally put a run on the scoreboard.

The lone run in the third inning for the Rocks came from Seuly Matias who would hit a two out ground ball single to left field which scored Brewer Hicklen to decrease Woodpeckers lead to 3-1.

Rocks would add another run in the fifth inning which would come from Blake Perkins who did a sacrifice bunt which scored Rudy Martin to decrease Fayetteville’s lead to 3-2.

Rocks Tie It Up In Seventh Inning

After six innings, Rocks starting pitcher Jackson Kowar’s day was done as he had some bumps early but finished the day solid. Kowar went six innings, eight hits,three runs, three earned runs,two walks and five strikeouts.

Josh Mitchell would come in for Kowar as he was dominate in the two innings he pitched with five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Rocks would score a run which would tie the game up at three.

The tying run of the game came from Brewer Hicklen who would hit a triple to left field which he would be able to score on thanks to a throwing error from the Woodpeckers left fielder.

In the ninth inning, it was Tad Ratliff for the Rocks on the mound as he went one inning,one hit,one walk and one strikeout.

The Rocks could not muster any runs in the bottom of ninth which meant this game was heading to extra innings.

Bryan Brickhouse would come in for the Rocks pitching staff in the 10th inning which he did not throw any bricks in the inning. Brickhouse went one inning, one walk, two strikeouts and earned the win.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Blue Rocks would get the home crowd on their feet as the team gave their fans a walk off win.

The walk off came from Blake Perkins who would hit a two out line drive single to right field which would score Ricky Aracena to give the Rocks a 4-3 extra innings win.

Tonight the Rocks are celebrating as the team is heading to the postseason!

Rocks look to take the series from the Woodpeckers as the two match up tomorrow at 1:35pm ET at Frawley Stadium.

 

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