Emiliani Home Run Ends Extras In Favor Of Wilmington

The Wilmington Blue Rocks (28-32) bounced back against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (31-29) on Friday, June 16, defeating them in ten innings by a final score of 8-5 in game four of their six-game series.

Wilmington set the tone early, getting the scoring started in the bottom of the first. First, Yasel Antuna, who just recently re-joined the Blue Rocks after playing 205 games with the team from 2021-2022, poked an RBI single to center field, scoring Viandel Pena. The very next batter, Jeremy De La Rosa, knocked in both Antuna and Jared McKenzie with an RBI single of his own to extend the Rocks’ lead to 3-0.

Jersey Shore was able to strike back in the top of the fifth, cutting the BlueClaws’ deficit to 3-1 thanks to an RBI fielder’s choice by Erick Brito. Two innings later, in the top of the seventh, the Phillies’ High A affiliate was able to capitalize on some self-inflicted wounds by the Blue Rocks. The deficit was cut to one when Chance Huff fired a wild pitch which allowed Rixon Wingrove to score, then, Wilfredo Flores reached on a Pena fielding error which tied up the game at three.

Both Wilmington and Jersey Shore’s offense went cold from that point forward, up until the top of the tenth. The BlueClaws scored two runs in the opening extra-inning frame, with Hao-Yu Lee reaching on a fielder’s choice which drove in a run and Nick Ward grounding into a force out to drive in one more and make it a 5-3 ballgame.

Some magic was in store in the bottom half of the inning, however. Will Frizzell got things rolling with an RBI single to right field to make it a one-run deficit. Then, Jeremy De La Rosa, who went 3-4 with three RBI in the game, tied it up with a two-out RBI single to left field, scoring Frizzell and tying the game at five.

The Rocks’ clutch hitting was far from done. With two men on and two outs, Leandro Emiliani crushed a three-run bomb to deep right field to secure the 8-5 win and send the fans home happy.

With the series now all tied up at two games each, the Blue Rocks will look to gain the upper hand on Saturday, June 17 in game five at Frawley Stadium.