Blue Rocks flip the script behind dominant start; Win 5-2

July 26, 2024 – South Atlantic League (SAL)
Press Release Wilmington Blue Rocks

Two home runs by the Wilmington Blue Rocks secured a 5-2 victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades on Friday, July 26.

The Renegades were on fire in the first inning under Jose Atencio, collecting three hits and scoring one run on a single by Antonio Gomez.

The Blue Rocks came back in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a leadoff double by Phillip Glasser and a sac bunt by Jared McKenzie. An error by Renegades starter Blane Abeyta on the bunt sent Glasser to the other end to tie the score at 1-1.

Maxwell Romero Jr. didn’t let the first inning pass him by, hitting a two-run home run to right field to give Wilmington a 3-1 lead.

Atencio found his groove after a shaky first inning, producing two 1-2-3 innings between the second, third and fourth frames, not allowing a single hit or run in that span.

In the third inning, Murphy Stehly soloed the ball to left field to increase the lead to 4-1.

Atencio left after seven innings of professional pitching. He gave up four hits, three walks, three strikeouts and allowed just one run. His ERA has dropped by almost two full points over the past month.

The Blue Rocks managed to add another run in the eighth inning. McKenzie singled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Joe Naranjo drove him in with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-1 and solidify the Blue Rocks position.

Brendan Collins was retired in his two innings of relief, but he did allow a ninth-inning homer to Josh Moylan to cut the lead to 5-2. The lead remained there as Wilmington secured the win.

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