Blue Rocks Beat Salem on Cegarra's Gem

Your Wilmington Blue Rocks continue to strive for mediocrity as they beat the Salem Avalanche in Salem's Memorial stadium Thursday night. 19 year old Venezuelan Ed Cegarra pitched beautifully, eight shut-out innings, matching his career best from earlier this season. Cegarra (3-4) bounced back from his previous horrendous three inning, three homer outing against the Lynchburg Hillcats last Saturday to dominate the Av's on their home turf, allowing only five hits and racking up five strike-outs. First basemen Brad Correll, assigned to the Rocks on July fourth, socked his second dinger for Wilmington in the first inning, sparking the eventual 7-2 victory. Correll went two for five and currently has an eight game hitting streak. Salem did score twice in the ninth off reliever Greg Holland, but it wasn't enough as the rocks beat up on the Avalanche's starting pitcher Sergio Severino (0-2) and his relief. The Rocks continue this crucial seven game road trip against Salem tonight, sending 'The Thunder from Down Under' Paul Mildron (0-2 5.40) to the mound before swinging into divisonal rival Lynchburg for four games, and then heading home to take on the Kinston Indians. The Blue Rocks are 12-14 since the all-star break, three games back of the Carolina League, Northern Divission Leading Potomac Nationals, and 47-49 for the season.