Rocks Rally for Walk-Off Win to Extend Their Season
Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks were three outs away from their season ending on Friday, but instead rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Salem Red Sox 3-2 at Frawley Stadium. The victory extended the Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series as
Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks were three outs away from their season ending on Friday, but instead rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Salem Red Sox 3-2 at Frawley Stadium. The victory extended the Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series as Wilmington pulled to within 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
Trailing 2-1,
It was quite the turnaround for the Rocks, who looked dead and buried after a frustrating early part of the night.
With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the eighth, Wilmington reliever
It was Salem's second lead of the night. The Red Sox went ahead in the fourth thanks to the only two hits they managed against Blue Crew starter
Despite 11 strikeouts, no walks and six one-two-three frames in seven innings pitched, Bubic had to settle for a no-decision because the Blue Rocks offense simply could not buy a clutch hit early.
They stranded a two-out double from
That ended Politi's night, but the Rocks kept scrapping to draw even against his replacement, Dylan Thompson. The righty walked the first batter he faced to open the fifth, but then got Hicklen to line into an inning-ending double play. The Blue Crew put two on with only one down in sixth before Thompson induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Melendez.
Finally, Wilmington broke through in the seventh. Gigliotti worked a one-out walk, which sent Salem deeper into its bullpen. LoBrutto entered and allowed a Kasser grounder that advanced Gigliotti to second base. Isbel got him in with a two-out single to center that tied the game.
Wilmington looks to even the series in Game Four on Saturday at Frawley Stadium. Southpaw Austin Cox hits the hill for the Blue Crew while Salem has yet to name its starter. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. and tickets are available at BlueRocks.com. Fans that don't make it to the ballpark can catch all of the action with the Voice of the Blue Rocks, Cory Nidoh, on 89.7 WGLS-FM.