Sox Swept in Twin-Bill, Finish Homestand at 3-5
April 16, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Despite leading 1-0 in both ballgames, the Salem Red Sox dropped a pair on Thursday night against Potomac, 8-2 in game one, and 5-1 in eight innings in game two. The Red Sox finish their eight game homestand at a disappointing 3-5 and embark on a six-game road trip to Frederick and Wilmington on Friday.
Salem scored a first inning tally in game one on Jason Place's RBI single that scored Ryan Kalish. Place went 3-4 in the first game with two RBI, finishing with four hits on the day in two losing efforts.
The Nationals were subdued for three innings by Red Sox starter Eammon Portice, who faced the minimum nine batters to begin the game, yielding only a walk to Danny Espinosa in the first (Espinosa was caught stealing). In the fourth inning, however, the Nationals pounded four hits, including back-to-back-to-back doubles by Chris Marrero, Tim Pahuta, and Francisco Plasencia to take a 4-1 lead. The Nationals added four more runs and batted around again in the top of the seventh, an inning highlighted by Plasencia's solo home run. Potomac also drilled three more doubles in the seventh, giving them seven extra base hits in the seven inning game.
Salem scored once more in the final frame, but were largely shut down by Erik Arnesen, who earned the win with five strong innings, and Andrew Kown, who picked up the save tossing the final two for Potomac.
In game two, Salem's spot starter Derrick Loop did not allow a hit over four sensational scoreless innings. Danny Espinosa, who walked twice off Loop, was the only National to reach base through the first four, and the Red Sox led 1-0 after Luis Segovia's triple plated Will Vazquez in the third.
Potomac broke up the no-hitter with one-out in the fifth when Jesus Valdez singled off Jason Rice. Although Rice retired two of the first three batters he faced, he proceeded to give up a single to Pahuta and walked Dan Nelson to load the bases with two away. Nationals leadoff man Boomer Whiting drilled a sharp ground ball to third that Zak Farkes booted for the error that allowed the tying run to score. Rice induced a strikeout of Espinosa to finish the inning, but the damage was done as the Nationals tied it up on the unearned tally.
When Salem could not retake the lead over the final three innings, Potomac capitalized in the first extra frame, scoring four times off Josh Papelbon, who was activated off the DL earlier in the day. Espinosa scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, coming home from third after singling, stealing second, and moving to third on a grounder to first. Valdez and Pahuta followed that up with RBI singles to give the Nats the four run edge.
Salem loaded the bases with two away to bring the potential tying run to the dish, but Kyle Gunderson struck out Mike Jones to finish the ballgame, completing the sweep of the Sox. Gunderson improved to 2-0 with two scoreless innings, earning his second victory of the series, while Papelbon suffered the loss.
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Carolina League Stories from April 16, 2009
- Pelicans drop first series of the year - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Sox Swept in Twin-Bill, Finish Homestand at 3-5 - Salem Red Sox
- Third baseman has six RBI night to lead Cats to series win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- P-Nats Sweep Red Sox, Head Home 4-4 - Potomac Nationals
- Keys finish eight game trip with win - Frederick Keys
- Blue Rocks Beat Kinston 7-2 - Kinston Indians
- Late offense lifts Rocks to 7-2 victory - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Alvarez Walk-Off Blast Buries Winston-Salem - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats game notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
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