Blue Rocks Split Opening Weekend Doubleheader With Cyclones

After pushing Opening Day back one night, the Wilmington Blue Rocks officially started their season in a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Saturday night in which the two teams split.

In the first game of the day, which was the makeup from yesterday, Mitchell Parker took the mound for the Blue Rocks as they would grab the victory 5-1.

After Brooklyn’s Jose Peroza drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the top of the first, Parker and the rest of the pitching staff would not allow another run to score.

It was Blue Rock’s shortstop Jordy Barley who would get the momentum going offensively for the team in the bottom of the first. After reaching first on a walk, Barley would nab back-to-back steals and then score off an Yasel Antuna RBI single. The offensive would continue to flow throughout the first, as they would take a 3-1 lead by the end of the inning.

Wilmington would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to really seal the deal on their first win of the season.

Parker only pitched four innings, so Lucas Knowles, who came in relief of the starter in the top of the fifth, would pick up the win for the Blue Rocks.

The second game of the night would start out slow for both teams as it would remain scoreless through the first four innings.

Wilmington’s starter Michael Cuevas was taken out in the top of the fifth with two runners on who would end up scoring the first runs of the game when Cyclones’ designated hitter Rowdey Jordan hit a two-RBI triple. Despite the fact the Blue Rocks had a late game rally, those two runs would be enough for Brooklyn.

Wilmington did have a chance to tie it in the bottom of the seventh when right fielder Jeremy Ydens scored on a fielder’s choice with only one out in the inning and two men on, but they weren't able to capitalize and dropped the second game 2-1. Cuevas was assigned the loss for the Blue Rocks.

The two will meet up in their final game in this first series of the season on Sunday, April 10 at 1:05 p.m.