Streaking Blue Rocks race past Dash 10-1

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
Published: August 12, 2009

WILMINGTON, Del. --

Blazing Wilmington continued its run of success last night, routing Winston-Salem 10-1 in its series opener at Frawley Stadium.

Starting pitcher Michael Montgomery of the Blue Rocks was sharp and third baseman Mike Moustakes provided the offense, leading Wilmington to its 14th win in 15 games.

Montgomery (2-0), making his fourth Carolina League start, held the Dash to a run on two hits in 51/3 innings. He added four strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.11.

The Blue Rocks' offense scored early as Johnny Giavotella doubled off Jacob Rasner with one out in the first and Moustakes followed with a towering two-run homer inside the right-field foul pole.

Wilmington added two more runs in the second when Anthony Seratelli lined an run-scoring single and Derrick Robinson added a sacrifice fly to give the Blue Rocks a 4-0 lead.

Nick Van Stratten had an RBI double in the third before Wilmington broke the game open with three more runs in the fourth. Giavotella and Moustakes struck again with back-to-back RBI singles, chasing Rasner from the game and extending the Blue Rocks' lead to 8-0.

Rasner (3-4) lasted 31/3 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits, taking his fourth loss in five starts.

The Dash finally scored in the top of the sixth when Kent Gerst and Tyler Kuhn reached on back-to-back walks to start the inning. Justin Greene followed with an infield single off Montgomery to load the bases with no outs.

After Dale Mollenhauer struck out, Brent Morel reached on an error that allowed Kuhn to score. Reliever Luis Coleman of the Blue Rocks took over for Montgomery and struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

The Blue Rocks' bullpen took it the rest of the way as Coleman, Kelvin Villa and Eric Basurto combined to pitch 32/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out six.

Moustakes, who finished with three hits and four RBIs, added an RBI single in the ninth to stretch Wilmington's lead to 10-1.

The Dash and Blue Rocks are scheduled to play a doubleheader today. Both games are scheduled for seven innings with a 30-minute intermission between games. The first pitch of the opener is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

Winston-Salem will send right-hander Levi Maxwell (4-11, 4.71) to the mound in the first game and right-hander Dylan Axelrod in the second game.

Wilmington is expected to start right-hander Danny Gutierrez (0-0, 0.00) in the opener and right-hander Eduardo Paulino (6-6, 4.05) in the nightcap.

The Dash will return to Wake Forest Baseball Park on Aug. 18 to open a four-game, three-day series with a doubleheader against the Potomac Nationals. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

W-S ab r h bi WILM. ab r h bi

Kuhn lf 2 0 0 0 Rbnsn cf 4 2 2 1

Greene cf 4 0 1 0 Gvtlla 2b 4 2 2 1

Mllnhr 2b 4 0 0 0 Mstks 3b 5 1 3 4

Morel 3b 4 0 0 1 Rbnsn dh 4 1 1 2

Loman 1b 4 0 2 0 Hsmer 1b 5 0 0 0

Paiml ss 4 0 0 0 Vn Strtn rf 3 0 2 1

Curtis c 4 0 0 0 Walton lf 4 1 0 0

Lang dh 4 0 0 0 Eigsti c 2 1 0 0

Gerst rf 2 1 0 0 Srtlli ss 3 2 2 1

Totals 32 1 3 1 Totals 34 10 12 10

Winston-Salem 000 001 000 -- 1

Wilmington 221 300 02x -- 10

E--Giavotella, Moustakas. LOB--Winston-Salem 7, Wilmington 7. 2B--Giavotella, Van Stratten, Moustakas, DRobinson. HR--Moustakas. SB--DRobinson, Seratelli. PB--Curtis.

Winston-Salem IP H R ER BB SO

Rasner, L (3-4) 31/3 8 8 8 3 2

Albritton 4 3 2 2 2 6

Santiago 2/3 1 0 0 0 1

Wilmington IP H R ER BB SO

Mntgmry, W (2-0) 51/3 2 1 1 2 4

Coleman 12/3 0 0 0 0 4

Villa 1 0 0 0 0 0

Basurto 1 1 0 0 0 2

HBP--by Montgomery (Kuhn). T--2:45. A--4,388