The Blue Rocks broke out for three runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings, then withstood a pair of two-run rallies in the 5th and 6th as they doubled up the Cyclones, 8-4.
Joan Adon struck out a career-high 11 batters, including two in each of the first three innings. Except for Brooklyn’s Ronny Mauricio, who connected for three solid line drives that resulted in a triple and two singles, Adon was in control for the first four innings, hitting 95 on the gun while keeping the Cyclones guess with a mix of a cutter, slider, and change.
The 22-y.o. Dominican only got to three balls twice in the first four-plus innings. The first was a two-out walk. The second was uniform-scratching HBP that put the leadoff man on. The next man doubled off the RF wall to put runners on second and third.
Adon whiffed the Cyclones’ no. 9 batter for the first out but gave up a two-run single to lose the shutout. Ahead 6-2, though, he bore down to get a groundout and another K to escape the jam.
Tommy Shields sent him out to pitch the 6th even though it appeared he may have been done, and stuck with him after a leadoff double. Adon rewarded him with back-to-back whiffs before his day was done after 99 pitches.
Jordan Bocko lost the runner he inherited from Adon with a two-run homer coughed up to the first batter he faced and then gave up a double before recovering with a strikeout to end the inning.
Wilmington got those two runs back over the course of the 7th and 8th innings with the help of an error and three walks in the 7th and Brady Lindsly’s double in the 8th. Lindsly also homered in the 3rd with a line drive over the RF fence.
Justin Connell led the Blue Rocks hit column with three singles in five trips to the plate while Kyle Marinconz and Israel Pineda both drove in two while collecting doubles.
The win puts Wilmington three games over .500 for the second time in 2021. The series continues tonight with Francys Peguero taking Cade Cavalli’s turn in the rotation. Cavalli will make his AA debut tonight in Harrisburg.