Blue Rocks lose the series and second start for Lamb…

Wilmington, DE had a bunch of kids at the ballpark today to watch the rubber match of the series between the first place Frederick Keys and the Wilmington Blue Rocks, due to a special give-away for the first 1000 School Kids to enter Frawley Stadium. The 5,743 fans saw the Blue Rocks drop the game to the Keys by the final score of 4-1.

John Lamb pitched for six innings without much run support or defense behind him. His second start in the Carolina League incorporated a total of 79 pitches, with 69 percent of those being in the strike zone. Today’s effort was more on the side of pitching to contact and not missing bats, based on the 8 hits, 3 strike outs and 1 walk performance. Of the 3 runs allowed by Lamb only 1 was earned, which maintained his 1.50 ERA in the High Class A level for another start on the road.

The largest game regnant was the complete lack of offense by the Wilmington Blue Rocks hitters. However, sometimes you can simply tip your hat to the opposing pitcher and his stuff. The Keys hurler, Zagone, did go the distance, but do in part to overly aggressive hitting throughout the baseball game.

Swinging at the first strike can work against a team struggling to produce runs. If the statistics are reviewed, I believe there were two, maybe three, innings that the Blue Rocks were retired on less than 9 pitches. One of them I am sure was the outcome of only 5 pitches. Five pitches should be the approach of one at bat, not a full inning. Anyone that knows me can discern my place on aggressive hitting and it is not based on being the father of a pitching prospect.

The Blue Rocks get a day off Thursday to regroup and attack the last few games to the first half of the 2010 season.

GO BLUE ROCKS!

– – –  James Lamb