Celery-brating the Holiday at Home
The Wilmington Blue Rocks hosted the first three games of their six-game split series against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. In the short homestand, the Blue Rocks took two of three to jump ahead before heading on the road to Lakewood. Sunny skies, 33 hits, 19 runs, and one sold-out game
The Wilmington Blue Rocks hosted the first three games of their six-game split series against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. In the short homestand, the Blue Rocks took two of three to jump ahead before heading on the road to Lakewood.
Sunny skies, 33 hits, 19 runs, and one sold-out game came out of the homestand, making it the perfect start to a gorgeous Independence Day weekend.
Game 1
The Blue Rocks kicked off the homestand and July with a rare, Monday night game and coinciding 7-3 win. Riley Cornelio earned the win after holding the BlueClaws to only two runs in six full innings, marking his sixth win of the year. The Blue Rocks’ infield recorded two double plays to add to the solid night defensively.
Wilmington put on a show for the 2,000+ fans that braved the heat, recording 11 hits from seven different members of the lineup. This includes home runs from Jared McKenzie, Phillip Glasser, and Matt Suggs, as well as Gavin Dugas’s 3 of 4 night at the plate.
Game 2
Bryan Caceres took the mound in the Blue Rocks’ 8-6 win Tuesday night. The right-hander went five full innings, struck out four batters and allowed just three hits and three runs, giving him his second win of the year.
Following their home runs the previous night, McKenzie and Glasser continued to make contact at the plate, each recording two of Wilmington’s 11 hits. Joe Naranjo was the most productive offensive player for the Blue Rocks Tuesday night, recording two hits and two RBIs to help seal the win.
Game 3
Despite the offensive showcases in the first two games, the Blue Rocks were unable to come up with a victorious Independence Day homestand finale. Jose Atencio earned his first loss of the season. Despite only allowing one earned run, Atencio was on the mound for seven of the BlueClaws’ eight runs, which were largely the result of two fielding errors and one throwing interference call.
The Blue Rocks picked up another 11 hits, with Glasser and Viandel Pena each recording two. Naranjo continued his offensive productivity into the final part of the homestand with one hit and two RBIs.
On the Road and Looking Ahead
The two teams concluded the second half of the split series in Lakewood, where the BlueClaws took two of three. Splitting the series three games a piece, the Blue Rocks now host the Brooklyn Cyclones in the teams’ first meeting since late April.