Wilmington, DE – Thanks to a career-best pitching effort from right-handed starter Greg Holland (pictured) and a solid finishing job by southpaw Everett Teaford, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (1-2) finally earned their first win of the 2008 season with a 3-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2-1) on Sunday afternoon at Frawley Stadium.

Holland (1-0), the 2007 Pitcher of the Year at short-season Idaho Falls, logged career-highs of five innings and seven strikeouts. The converted reliever did not allow a run or issue a walk while yielding just four hits. Holland retired the side in order once and did not allow a runner past first base. He retired six of the last seven men he faced – four via strikeout – before departing with a 3-0 lead.

In a piggybacking role, lefty Everett Teaford entered in the sixth and was able to go the duration and log his first career save in his Wilmington debut. Teaford allowed a single run on four hits with three strikeouts in four innings. In the eighth, the southpaw induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Ernesto Mejia with two runners aboard. Then, in the ninth, Teaford retired the side in order, including a game-ending strikeout of Jon Mark Owings.

The Blue Rocks put together a two-run first inning against 21-year-old Pelicans starter Kyle Cofield (0-1). Jeff Bianchi drew a two-out walk in front of Joe Dickerson, who gave the Rocks the early advantage with an RBI triple into the right-center field gap. Anthony Seratelli followed Dickerson with a run-scoring poke to right, making it 2-0 Wilmington.

Wilver Perez, making this first start of the season at second base, put the Rocks ahead 3-0 with a two-out looper to right over the drawn-in infield defense in the bottom of the third.

Wilmington will attempt to earn a split of the four-game series when they host Myrtle Beach on Monday evening at 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Jason Godin, who had a cup of coffee with the Blue Rocks in 2007, will oppose Pelicans righty Ryne Reynoso.

GAME NOTES
Taking their cue from the aggressive managerial style of Darryl Kennedy, the Blue Rocks continue to tear up the base paths. Wilmington baserunners accumulated four steals on the afternoon, including a pair by speedster Derrick Robinson. Jeff Bianchi also swiped a sack, while Joe Dickerson notched his second steal of the season. Through three games, the Blue Rocks have stolen eight bases.

The Blue Rocks pitching duo of Greg Holland and Everett Teaford combined to strike out 10 Myrtle Beach batters. It marks the third straight game to begin the season that the Wilmington staff logged double-digit whiffs. Blue Rocks pitching had recorded 13 strikeouts in each of the first two games against the Birds.

The three runs and seven hits put forth by the Blue Rocks on Sunday equaled the combined total of the first two games, which includes a 13-inning opening day marathon.