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WINSTON-SALEM, NC – In his first game against his former team, Paulo Orlando lifted Wilmington past late-charging Winston-Salem 7-6 in the series opener on Monday night at Ernie Shore Field. After being traded by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, Orlando played his first game for the Blue Rocks against his former team and finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs and an RBI.

The early offense helped the Blue Rocks avert a late collapse as the Warthogs trailed 7-3 after seven innings, but got within a run with two runners on base in the ninth inning. Tyler Chambliss retired Dale Mollenhauer swinging to preserve the win, while collecting his league-best 22nd save of the season.

Wilmington grabbed an early lead with a run in the first inning off Warthogs starter Jacob Rasner. Orlando doubled and scored on a two-out single by Brad Correll. Winston-Salem answered in the bottom half of the first as C.J. Retherford and Mollenhauer led off with back-to-back singles. John Shelby III followed with a two-run double to put Winston-Salem in front 2-1.

The Blue Rocks manufactured a run in the third inning to knot the score at two. Derrick Robinson singled, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Correll collected his second RBI by bringing Robinson home when he hit into the second out of the inning.

Wilmington gained control in the fourth inning when Robinson reached on a single and scored on a triple by Orlando. It was Orlando’s league-high 13th triple. Chris McConnell followed with an RBI single to give the Blue Rocks a 4-2 lead. Both teams would exchange a run in the fifth inning as Wilmington maintained a 5-3 lead.

A two-out rally off Warthogs reliever Matt Zaleski in the seventh inning produced two more runs of the Blue Rocks who were aided by four Winston-Salem errors. Everett Teaford (8-5) lasted 6 2/3 innings and held the Warthogs to three runs on seven hits to earn the win. Rasner (4-7) took the loss while allowing four runs on six hits in five innings of work.

The two clubs will continue with the second of this three-game series on Tuesday night at Ernie Shore Field. The Warthogs will hand the ball to RHP Matt Long (7-10, 4.46), while the Blue Rocks are expected to start RHP Ed Cegarra (4-6, 5.27). The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.