Blue Rocks: Thanks, Matt

You have to wonder. With the forecast for rain so definite, getting in tonight's opener did not look good.

Looks like someone up there put in a good word with the Big Guy, because the sun is shining at Frawley Stadium and, at least for now, it is a perfect April night for baseball.

Matt Minker, whose construction company, in five months, built Frawley Stadium in time for the Blue Rocks' 1993 debut, died in November. He was the team's president and was among principal owners upon his passing. He was remembered in a pregame ceremony, when the crowd applauded upon learning that the city has renamed part of the lane around the stadium as Matt Minker Way.

As for checking out the Blue Rocks' menus this year, new items include boneless buffalo wings, as well as sliders, which if you don't know, are mini burgers. Marble Slab Creamery is the new supplier for ice cream, with Molli Coolz! the new vendor for the frozen-dots style ice cream.

Chick-fil-A has opened a new stand on the left field concourse, and per company policy, the stand will be closed on Sundays.

As far as the Blue Rocks, I am looking forward to the middle infield combo of shortstop Chris McConnell and second baseman Jeff Bianchi. Some of the early talk about the Blue Rocks is asking how many bases they will still this season.

But with McConnell and Bianchi, counting how many double plays the Blue Rocks turn this season will be a heady task, too. In 2007, Rocks recorded 119 double plays, tied for fifth-most in the eight-team Carolina League. So, it's certainly a good area for improvement, though the Rocks' .980 fielding percentage last year did lead the league.

Tonight's opening lineup is CF Derrick Robinson, SS McConnell, 2B Bianchi, 1B David Wood, DH Anthony Seratelli, RF Joe Dickerson, 3B Kurt Mertins, C Jeff Howell, LF Jarrod Dyson. The starting pitcher is right-hander Blake Wood.

UPDATE (MID-GAME, 0-0, MID 7TH)

Wood struck out nine and faced the minimum number of batters over five and one-third innings. He did not allow a hit until there were two out in the fourth, an infield single by Myrtle Beach shortstop Brandon Hicks. Hicks was then caught stealing to finish the Pelicans' half of the fourth.

After Wood retired the Pelicans' Willie Carbera to start the sixth, he was relieved, likely because of an early-season pitch count. Reliever Russ Halitwanger retired the first batter he faced before loading the bases on a triple and two walks. He escaped after inducing a ground out to end the threat.

Wood's counterpart had an even more impressive start. Tommy Hanson, one of the top prospects in the Atlanta organization, went five innings and did not allow a hit, walking one and striking out 13.

Hanson is only 21 years old. But I can't see Atlanta keeping him at this level for a whole season. The Pelicans are next at Frawley from May 9 to 11. That might be your last chance to see Hanson in Wilmington.

To start the sixth, against Myrle Beach reliever Gonzalo Lopez, Howell doubled for the Blue Rocks' first hit of 2008.

New Blue Rocks manager Darryl Kennedy has promised to play small ball this year, and sure enough left fielder Jarrod Dyson came out and sacrificed Howell to third. But the Blue Rocks' next two batters, Robinson and McConnell, struck out, leaving the game scoreless.

Aaron Hartsock was the Blue Rocks' new pitcher to start the seventh, and he recorded a 1-2-3 inning, all of them flyouts to Robinson.

Tonight's attendance was announced as 5,827.

UPDATE (BLUE ROCKS LOSE 2-0 IN 13)

The Blue Rocks open 2008 with a loss. With strikeouts all the rage early on, each team had plenty of chances to score later on. Most hurtful was the Rocks loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but there would be no appearance from Mr. Celery on this night.

Blue Rocks reliever Gilbert De La Vera walked four batters (one intentionally) in the top of the 13th, with two of the walks forcing in runs. The Blue Rocks did not mount a comeback. Brett Bigler popped up in the infield, Robinson was hit by a pitch and McConnell almost beats out a double play, but doesn't.

Saturday's game starts at 6:05. The Blue Rocks starting pitcher will be 25-year-old Matt Kniginyzky, who hails from Mississauga, Ontario, which in a way is Canada's version of Wilmington. According to Wikipedia, Mississauga has a large financial district and is home to Canadian headquarters for several Fortune 500 companies, including General Electric, Microsoft, Pepsi and Wal Mart.

A righty, Kniginyzky only made five starts for three different minor league teams last season (none for the Blue Rocks) after injuring his right shoulder on July 16, making only rehab start over the rest of 2007.