Nate Adcock picked up the victory after allowing three runs and scattering 11 hits over five innings. Four Omaha relievers closed out the victory.

Reliever Sam Runion

After the two teams combined for a total of five first inning runs, NW Arkansas held on for the 5-4 win over Midland. Brian Fletcher (2-for-4) gave the Naturals the lead in the first inning with a three-run homerun. He ended up driving in four of the Naturals’ five runs.

Ethan Hollingsworth picked up the win after throwing four innings of relief. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two. Sam Runion picked up his second save by striking out the side on just 11 pitches (ten for strikes).

I guess Thursday night’s closed door meeting by manager Vance Wilson worked: Wilmington beat up on Salem, 9-1 in the first game of the three-game series. Salem led 1-0 after the first inning (without a hit), but Blue Rocks starter Jason Adam cruised from there. He allowed the unearned run on just two hits over seven innings. He walked one while striking out six. Both singles off Adam came in the 3rd inning. He finished his outing by retiring the final 13 batters he faced.

Matt Fields continued his tear on Carolina League pitching, as he went 5-for-5 with two more homeruns.

Kane County beat Clinton, 5-0 as they scored all their runs in the 7th and 8th innings. The KC Royals top pick in this June’s draft, Kyle Zimmer, was dominant over his 6.2 innings. He allowed just three hits while striking out ten. In his first win with the Cougars, Zimmer struck out at least one hitter in every inning but the third.

The Cougars 4-5 hitters, Dean Espy and Alex Llanos, delivered the bulk of the offense. The two combined to go 4-for-8 with three doubles, three runs scored, and three RBIs.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs in Burlington’s 12-5 win. The Royals were down 5-2 heading into the 7th inning before scoring six and then another four in the 8th inning.

After watching Iowa take the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning, Johnny Giavotella tied the game back up with a solo homerun in the top of the 9th inning.

The late scoring for the Cubs negated the solid spot start by Roman Colon. He allowed one run on two hits over five innings.

Chris Getz and Lorenzo Cain continued their rehab with the Storm Chasers. Getz led off and went 0-for-5 while playing nine innings at second base. Cain went 2-for-5 while playing nine innings in centerfield.

NW Arkansas lost to Corpus Christi, 3-0. The Naturals only had one hit prior to the 9th inning (a one out Yem Prades single in the 6th inning) against Hooks starter Ross Seaton. They finished with three hits total (from the top three in the order).

Bryan Paukovits tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and struck out seven.

Manny Pina continued his rehab assignment and caught all nine innings (he went 0-for-3).

Blue Rocks reliever Sam Runion

Wilmington defeated Lynchburg 6-5 in ten innings on getaway day. Lane Adams hit his second homerun of the game in the top of the 10th inning. That was the Blue Rocks fourth solo homerun of the game.

The Blue Rocks collected 12 hits and five hitters had multi-hit games.

Sam Runion picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

Kane County lost their home series to Quad Cities with a 6-1 loss. The Cougars now head back out on the road for a short three-game series in Wisconsin.

The Cougars collected just six hits, but only went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. The lack of offense made a loser of Kellen Moen, who allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits over six innings. He struck out five.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a run scored in Burlington’s 5-2 win over Bristol. The story of the game was the start by 2012 draft pick Colin Rodgers, who tossed six hitless inning. He struck out three and the only baserunner came via a hit batter in the second inning.

Max Ramirez courtesy of Minda Haas (Royal Blues)

Omaha mounted a two-run comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and Max Ramirez hit a three-run walk-off in the 12th inning to beat Albuquerque, 5-2. David Lough drove in the two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning on a two out, two-run single.

In the top of the 10th inning, Omaha reliever Blaine Hardy escaped a bases loaded, one out jam by getting a double play ball.

Lorenzo Cain and Chris Getz continued their rehab with the Storm Chasers. Cain was the DH and went 1-for-5. Getz played second base for nine innings and went 0-for-4.

Jake Odorizzi got the start for Omaha, but lasted just five innings despite only allowing two runs on five hits (he threw 92 pitches).

NW Arkansas lost to San Antonio, 3-2 in 11 innings. The newest Natural Nick Rogers struggled to throw strikes in the 11th inning (his first appearance in Double-A), as he walked in the winning run (he walked three and allowed a single in the inning). He did not record an out (command was something he struggled with in Wilmington over the last few weeks).

The Naturals had just two hits in the loss and scored both of their runs on sac flies.

Michael Mariot allowed two runs on four hits over the first seven innings. Jon Keck followed with three hitless innings of relief.

Wilmington scored six runs in the top of the 13th inning to win at Frederick, 12-6. Keys reliever Brandon Erbe took the loss, as he threw just three strikes (out of 22 pitches) while walking five. That forced Frederick to use a position player to finish the inning.

Blue Rocks reliever Sam Runion picked up the win, despite blowing the save in the 9th inning (he allowed a solo homerun to Aaron Baker). Runion allowed three hits over four innings. Infielder Luis Piterson was forced to pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning after reliever Cole White put two men on base (Gameday said there was an injury delay for both Erbe and White). Piterson struck out Frederick’s position player pitcher Jeremy Nowak to end the game. Antonio Cruz, who replaced Rogers on the Blue Rocks roster, pitched two scoreless innings of relief earlier in the game.

The top five in the Blue Rocks order collected 13 of the team’s 17 hits. Matt Fields went 4-for-7 with two homeruns and two doubles. Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert each had three hits in the win.

Kane County defeated Peoria, 6-0 with a solid pitching effort by three pitchers. Angel Baez started and allowed just two hits over six innings. He struck out eight. Cody Fassold followed with two scoreless innings while striking out four. Robinson Yambati finished the game with a perfect inning.

The 4-5 hitters for the Cougars (Jorge Bonifacio and Murray Watts) went a combined 4-for-8 with two runs scored.

Bubba Watch: Bubba Starling hit his first two homeruns of his professional career, as he went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and six RBIs.

Jason Adam

When will Jason Adam win his second game of the 2012 season?

Maybe tonight is the night. Adam and the Wilmington Blue Rocks return home from a long road trip that followed the All-Star break for a short three-game home series against first-place Lynchburg. The Hillcats won the first half Northern Division title.

It has been a struggle for Adam over the last month or so. He has allowed three or more runs in six of his last seven starts. In his first start of the second half, he allowed six runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings in Carolina. His defense failed him, as only one of those runs was earned.

Overall, Adam is 1-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 14 starts.

The Blue Rocks are just 2-5 to start the second half. Their roster is ever-changing, as they have added five players while they were out on the road (pitchers Elisaul Pimentel and Matt Ridings, first baseman Matt Fields, shortstop Orlando Calixte, and outfielder Lane Adams).

Lynchburg hasn’t seen too much movement with their roster. They did lose outfielder Matt Lipka to the DL this week (he was hitting .271). First baseman Chris Garcia (.308 with 34 RBIs), second baseman Tommy La Stella (.267 with 44 RBIs), shortstop Nick Ahmed (.269 with 21 doubles), catcher Braeden Schlehuber (.294), and pitcher JR Graham (8-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 14 starts) all returned to the team following the California-Carolina League All-Star Game. Lynchburg has allowed three runs or less in 16 of their last 21 games.

Pitching for the Hillcats is Aaron Northcraft. He is 7-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 14 starts (two complete games). In 80 innings, Northcraft has allowed 69 hits and 35 walks. He has struck out 78 and has yet to allow a homerun. In his last start (Friday), he threw a no-hitter (which was the first of his career), though it was a seven-inning affair.

Lineups:

Hillcats: Mycal Jones (CF), Nick Ahmed (SS), Bobby Stevens (LF), Adam Milligan (DH), Edward Salcedo (3B), Chris Garcia (1B), Matt Weaver (2B), David Rohm (RF), and Chad Comer (C).

Blue Rocks: Whit Merrfield (LF), Orlando Calixte (SS), Cheslor Cuthbert (3B), Matt Fields (1B), Lane Adams (CF), Roman Hernandez (DH), Kevin David (C), Geulin Beltre (RF), and Angel Franco (2B).

It’s a hot one here tonight in Wilmington and I’ll be out and about during the first few innings getting some photos of some of the new Blue Rocks and trying to get some video. I will update as soon as I get back into the pressbox.

It’s Tubby Raymond bobblehead night and there were quite a few people in line before the gates opened, but I’m not sure they have stuck around for the game. For those who are wondering, Raymond is the longtime football coach for the University of Delaware (plus he’s a Hall of Famer).

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The Blue Rocks aren’t going to get no-hit tonight. Whit Merrifield led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, stole second base, and scored on Matt Fields’ RBI bloop single. In the 2nd inning with one out, three straight hits produced another run, with Angel Franco’s double driving in the run. Merrifield followed with a walk to load the bases for Orlando Calixte. He struck out and Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out. That’s three left on in that inning.

There have been a few foul balls off of the feet of Blue Rocks hitters in the 2nd inning. First it was Geulin Beltre, who then singled. Then it was Cheslor Cuthbert, who limped around and then jogged to first base on a ground out. Both stayed in the game.

Meanwhile, Adam has retired the first six batters of the game. He has thrown 26 pitches through two innings, 15 for strikes.

Lynchburg got their first hit, a double leading off the 3rd inning by Matt Weaver, on an 0-2 pitch. The Hillcats got on the board with two outs, as Mycal Jones blooped a single towards the right field line just beyond first base and beyond the dive of second baseman Franco. That also came on an 0-2 pitch (that was flailed at). A nice sliding grab by Merrifield near the left field line ended the top of the 3rd inning.

After Roman Hernandez beat out an infield single fielded by the first baseman with two outs, Lynchburg seemed to think he was suddenly a speedster. Northcraft threw over to first base about four times and then there was a pitch-out before he ended up taking second base on a wild pitch. Kevin David grounded out to end the 3rd inning. The Blue Rocks lead 2-1.

After getting two quick outs on six pitches in the top of the 4th inning, Adam then allowed a solo homerun (a bomb down the LF line that stayed just fair) to Edward Salcedo to tie the game at 2-2. That blast came on a 2-0 pitch.

After getting the best of a ten-pitch at-bat (which resulted in a strikeout of Weaver), Adam needed just three pitches to get through the top of the 5th inning.

Jones led off the top of the 6th inning with a bunt single on the very first pitch. He stole second base on the very next pitch. Ahmed took the 0-2 pitch back up the middle, which got a piece of Adam, but Calixte fielded it and threw to first to get Ahmed out (Jones moved to third base). Adam was okay and with the infield in, got Stevens to ground out. However it was a high chopper and Jones scored to give the Hillcats the lead. Adam struck out Adam Mulligan on three pitched to end the top of the 6th inning. Adam did not throw a ball that inning (all 11 pitches were for strikes).

Another two quick outs for Adam in the top of the 7th inning (six pitches), but the first pitch to Weaver was crushed into the night (left-center field). I honestly lost it and I didn’t hear it hit the double-wall. David Rohm then blooped a double down the right field line and Chad Comer followed with a slow roller to short that Calixte threw away to score another run. A hard hit ball at Cuthbert that he couldn’t handle ended Adam’s night.

Two on and two out for Nick Rogers. He walked the first batter he faced in a nine-pitch AB. He did get out of the inning unscathed. The Hillcats lead 5-2 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning with a new pitcher on the mound. That new pitcher is Cole McCurry. Northcraft struck out four of the final seven batters he faced.

McCurry walked Merrifield with one out and Calixte followed with a single. However McCurry struck out Cuthbert and Matt Fields hit a deep fly ball to the warning track in right field that was caught for the final out.

Rogers got into trouble in the top of the 8th inning, but was bailed out by a double play grounder. He then gave up a double and fell behind Weaver 2-0, which brought out a coaching visit from pitching coach Steve Luebber. Rogers walked Weaver on four pitches. Rohm swung at the first pitch and grounded out to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the 8th, the Blue Rocks put together back-to-back doubles to score a run. That brought out a long coaching visit, but no pitching change (though there was the beginning of bullpen action). A bloop single by Beltre scored Kevin David from second base to cut the deficit to 5-4 and bring the pitching change.

That new pitcher is Chasen Shreve, who inherited a runner on first base with one out. Franco hit a ground ball to third that was booted and then thrown away to put runners at the corners. That brought out a manager visit with Merrifield coming to the plate. A squeeze play got the tying run to score (though it looked like he was out). The throw by the catcher to third base sailed down the LF line as the go ahead run scored. Merrifield was thrown out at the plate on the same play. It was alot of craziness, but the catcher should have held onto the ball because no one was covering third base (he was throwing to a moving target). At the end, the Blue Rocks lead 6-5 heading into the top of the 9th inning.

In for the save was Sam Runion. With one out, Jones blooped the ball down the RF line for a double. That’s his fourth hit of the game. It seems like everyone is blooping hits down the RF line. Ahmed hit a ground ball to short, but Calixte has a strong arm and got him for the second out (he looked safe to me). There was a short argument by the Hillcats manager, but to no avail. Runion got Stevens to ground out to end the game.

Blue Rocks win 6-5.

Feb 24, 2011; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Verdugo (76) throws during spring training at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha has won nine row, with a 4-2 victory at Nashville. The Storm Chasers went just 1-for-10. Wil Myers hit his tenth homerun with the Storm Chasers, a solo shot in the 7th inning (he drove in two runs).

Ryan Verdugo improved to 5-1, as he allowed two runs on five hits and four walks over six innings. Newly demoted Louis Coleman picked up his second save with a hitless 9th inning.

A four-run top of the 4th inning held up, as NW Arkansas ended their four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win at Springfield. Three straight one out singles by Mario Lisson (2-for-3), Rey Navarro, and Sharlon Schoop capped the Naturals scoring.

Michael Mariot picked up the win, as he allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out six.

*Earlier in the day, the Texas League named their All-Star teams and there are quite a few Naturals on the North roster. John Whittleman (1B), Yem Prades (OF), Carlo Testa (OF), and Christian Colon (DH) were voted in as starters. Pitchers Patrick Keating and Justin Marks will also be joining them in Tulsa on June 28th.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks ended their eight-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Winston-Salem (who was trying to clinch the Southern Division in the Carolina League). An RBI triple by Brett Eibner with the Blue Rocks trailing in the 6th inning and a one out RBI single by Geulin Beltre with the infield in gave the Blue Rocks the lead.

Sam Runion escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the 6th inning in relief of Jason Adam (who was hurt by two solo homeruns from Cyle Hankerd). Runion picked up the win with 2.1 hitless innings of relief.

Check out the video below of Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson talking after the game about ending their losing streak, getting a good outing from Adam, getting some timely hits, and Eibner’s ability to run like a deer:

Kane County lost their second straight series (both on the road), as they lost to Quad Cities, 4-3. The River Bandits scored three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to take the lead that they would not relinquish. The Cougars now return home to play Cedar Rapids for three games to finish the first half.

In the loss, Jorge Bonifacio went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jason Mitchell took the no decision, as he allowed just one run on three hits over 5.2 innings.