WILMINGTON, Del. (6/21) – The Wilmington Blue Rocks charge in the late innings and win, 5-1, sweeping the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday afternoon at Frawley Stadium.
This is the first time this season Wilmington has swept a six-game series, and the first time the Cyclones have ever been swept.
“I’m really excited for our guys,” said manager Ted Tom. “The way that the last couple of weeks have gone for us to come out and play really consistent baseball in every facet of the game.”
The Cyclones took the lead in the top of the sixth, after Daverson Gutierrez grounded out to third, scoring Mitch Voit.
But in the bottom of the sixth, Nationals’ number one top prospect, Eli Willits, drove a ball to left-center for a solo shot to knot the game up.
“I was looking for a fastball in the count, because I knew he was going to go to the fastball,” said Willits. “He threw the cutter, and I just stayed through it, and got a good swing on it.”
Willits would lead the charge once again in the bottom of the eighth, drawing a walk. Yeremy Cabrera would follow with a walk of his own. Jacob Walsh, who before the at-bat already had two hits on the day, would get his third single with a ground ball to right field, scoring Willits. Angel Feliz would fly out to left, scoring Yeremy Cabrera, and giving Wilmington a two-run lead.
In the five games Feliz started against Brooklyn, the 19-year-old shortstop had at least one hit. In June alone, Feliz is now batting .305 and slugging .492.
“He continues to show up every day and has that smile on his face,” said Tom.
Feliz has come a long way from his first month with the Blue Rocks, where he was slumping.
“He’s a very energetic guy, and it’s just so cool to see his growth from opening day to now, and even from the first day of June to now, he’s putting good swings on the baseball.”
Right-handed pitcher Eriq Swan got the start for Wilmington, where Swan went three and one-third innings, only allowing two hits, and punching out three Cyclones’ batters.
Right-hander Riley Maddox would come out of the bullpen in the top of the fifth inning, pitching five innings, and giving up one run and two hits to collect the win.
“Just kinda battled through it today, with some command issues,” said Maddox. “Fortunate enough to finish the five innings and the game.”
For Maddox, coming out of the bullpen was no problem for him.
“It was a minor adjustment,” said Maddox. “I knew I was still pitching today, and I pitched in the bullpen a couple years ago in college, so I’m not unfamiliar with it, but it’s been a while since I’ve had to.”
The Blue Rocks will be right back at it with another home series at Frawley Field against the Frederick Keys, kicking off on Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.
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