Jason Adam did not allow an earned run in seven strong innings, Matt Fields became the first Blue Rock of 2012 to record five hits in a single game, and Wilmington scored nine unanswered runs to paste the Salem Red Sox 9-1 on Friday night at Frawley Stadium.
An unearned run in the first inning was all Salem could muster, while the Rocks scored five in the fifth to break it open and cruised to the easy win. Fields belted two homers, three singles, and scored four runs in an all-around dominating offensive performance.
Salem’s only tally came on a Michael Almanzar sacrifice fly that scored Felix Sanchez, who reached on a hit by pitch, stole second, and moved to third on a throwing error. The Sox managed just three hits in the game, with Sanchez, Zach Gentile, and Jayson Hernandez recording the only knocks of the night.
Fields’ first homer came against Manny Rivera leading off the second inning to tie the game at one. In the fourth, Fields singled as part of a two-run rally that gave the Blue Rocks a 3-1 lead and knocked Rivera from the game. Michael Gleason recorded the final out of the fourth to strand a pair of inherited runners, but it would not be quite so simple for Gleason in the fifth.
Wilmington sent 10 men to the plate and five of them scored, surging the Blue Rocks to an 8-1 lead. With two triples, two singles, a double, and two walks, the Rocks offense erupted to chase Gleason from the contest with two outs in the inning. Fields’ third hit was a single in the middle of the five-run rally.
Wilmington’s final run came the same way as the first: a solo homer from Fields. His second bomb of the night came against Jeremiah Bayer and made the score 9-1. Fields also singles in the eighth for his fifth hit, singlehandedly outhitting the Red Sox 5-3.
Adam improved to 4-11 with seven innings of two-hit ball, permitting an unearned run with one walk and six strikeouts. Rivera took the loss, falling to 4-5 as he made the spot start for Matt Barnes. Rivera allowed three runs on four hits in three and two-thirds innings. Barnes was skipped to provide some extra rest, and he is scheduled to pitch again on Tuesday in Winston-Salem.
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Chris Graham
