Wilmington, DE - After nearly three-and-a-half hours of scoreless baseball, the Wilmington Blue Rocks finally fell prey to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 13 innings, 2-1, in their 2008 Carolina League season opener Friday night at Frawley Stadium.

Reliever Gilbert De La Vara (0-1) issued a pair of bases-loaded walks with two outs in the top of the 13th, breaking the stalemate. The southpaw appeared to be on the verge of escaping danger when he struck out Ernesto Mejia with the sacks full for the second out. But, a close non-call that would have granted De La Vara an inning-ending strikeout of Roberto Alvarez cost the left-hander. Alvarez eventually drew a walk to push home the go-ahead run and Willie Cabrera followed suit to put the Pelicans in front 2-0.

The Rocks went quietly in the bottom of the 13th, as Chris McConnell grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the lengthy affair.

Wilmington only managed three hits on the night and set a dubious record in the process by striking out a combined 21 times against six Myrtle Beach pitchers. Derrick Robinson, David Wood and Kurt Mertins each whiffed three times while Anthony Seratelli went down on strikes four times. In all, seven different Rocks struck out multiple times.

Right-handed starter Tommy Hanson led the Myrtle Beach mound assault by fanning a career-best 13 men in just five innings of work. Hanson, the No. 9 prospect in the Atlanta Braves system according to Baseball America, did not allow a hit and issued just one walk.

The Blue Rocks had several chances to walk off with a win late. McConnell doubled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Jeff Bianchi was intentionally walked thereafter. But, reliever Ferdin Tejeda rebounded to induce an inning-ending fielder's choice from David Wood.

Wilmington stranded the sacks full in the 11th when Wood and Seratelli each fanned against Pelicans southpaw Bryan Dumesnil.

Despite their dearth of hits, the Rocks left eight men on base, including five in scoring position.

While hitting was an issue, starting pitching was not. Wilmington's prospect starter Blake Wood (pictured) was in midseason form. The right-hander set a career-high with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings. The Atlanta, GA native allowed just one hit and didn't walk a batter. He, like his Myrtle Beach counterpart, was limited in length due to early-season pitch count restrictions.

The Blue Rocks will look to even the ledger, as Wilmington and Myrtle Beach hook up in the second game of the four-game set Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Righty Matt Kniginyzky makes his Wilmington debut against Pelicans right-hander Deunte Heath.

GAME NOTES
Prior to the contest, the Blue Rocks organization honored late team president Matt Minker with a special on-field ceremony. Minker passed away last November after a prolonged battle with cancer. Among those in attendance were Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Deputy Mayor Bill Montgomery of Wilmington and Kansas City Royals player development director J.J. Picollo. The team also unveiled a Matt Minker memorial on the Frawley Stadium scoreboard, which incorporates the Blue Rocks "Rally Train" with Minker's initials inscribed on it.

Catcher Jeff Howell broke up the Pelicans' no-hit bid in the sixth with a leadoff double against reliever Gonzalo Lopez. Howell, however, would be stranded at third following a sac bunt and back-to-back strikeouts by Robinson and McConnell.

Wilmington is now 11-5 all-time in home openers. They fall to 5-2 when the home opener is also the season opener.

Aaron Hartsock and Tyler Chambliss each spun three scoreless innings of relief. Hartsock yielded only two hits, while Chambliss gave up just one hit but walked three.