Wilmington, Del. — The Wilmington Blue Rocks won just two games in their series last week. This homestand, Wilmington is up two games against the Asheville Tourists, with an, 11-6, win on Wednesday at Frawley Stadium.
Much of their education day game, the Rocks struggled to find their rhythm. Through the 5.2 innings, Wilmington managed two hits. Then in the sixth, Ethan Petry slapped a solo home run with two outs. The inning ended with Wilmington just down one run.
“It’s our guys keep going,” manager Ted Tom said. “We preach a lot of trusting your process, trusting what you’re doing before the game, and then it’s going to be able to play out in the game. Continue to have confidence in the game plan and just go execute your plan.”
Then in the seventh Wilmington opened the flood gates. With two outs and a runner on, Elijah Green turned on a hanging slider and crushed it 443 feet over the wall in center field for a two-run home run, his fifth of the season, that capped a five-run inning for the Blue Rocks.
“You can’t go back and change at-bats before,” Green said. “You’ve just got to keep being positive, keep that self-talk, keep pushing.”
The homer from Green was the highlight of the approach at the dish for Wilmington. Although it clicked late, the Rocks their seven hits count delivering multiple two-out RBIs in the decisive seventh inning. Even as the offense struggled early, the dugout energy never dipped.
“The vibes are always up in our dugout,” Green said. “There’s never a thought that we were down in the game or going to lose the game at all.”
Bryan Polanco the starter allowed three runs over four innings, but the bullpen game in and stabilized the game and only allowed one earned run the rest of the way. Pablo Aldonis went two innings and picked up the win. Euri Montero got the hold going an inning and Robert Cranz the de facto closer struck out one to end the game.
“I think Polanco competed out there, maybe not with his best stuff, but that was a good sign,” Tom said. “Hill was great. Adonis was great. And to finish it up with Frend throwing missiles. We go in with a plan, know what our guys are capable of, and try to put them in situations to have success.”
After winning just two games away from home in the previous series against the Frederick Keys, Wilmington has opened the series with back-to-back wins.
“It feels good,” Petry said. “We’re looking to win one more each day. It’s a long season, and I’m really excited for tomorrow.”
Tom kept the focus simple.
“It’s always good to string some together,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we’re on to tomorrow. We’ve got to come out and work, get prepared, and then when they throw the ball out there, we go compete.”
For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]
