CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Swipes Two in Rainy Wilmington

Published on April 22, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Wilmington, DE- Playing through chilly temperatures and intermittent showers, the Salem Red Sox picked up a pair of victories on Wednesday evening. The Sox prevailed 11-4 in the completion of Tuesday's suspended game, then hung on for a 6-4 triumph in the nightcap to take two out of three from the Wilmington Blue Rocks and five out of six on their first road trip of 2009.

In game one, Salem used homers from Jason Place and Chih-Hsien Chiang in their 11 run explosion, aided by 10 walks issued by Wilmington pitching. Place and Chiang each contributed two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored, while Aaron Reza went 3-5 and Kris Negron 2-4.

The contest resumed in the top of the fourth inning with the Sox leading 5-1. Salem's Ryne Miller took over for starter Eammon Portice, who gave up one run in three innings yesterday. Miller pitched well enough to earn the win, allowing one run on four hits in two innings while striking out three. Kyle Fernandes pitched the final two frames, allowing one run on two hits for Salem.

Wilmington's offense was carried by two Clint Robinson solo home runs, however the Blue Rocks were unable to muster a clutch hit with runners on base, finishing 0-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 on in the seven inning game.

The Blue Rocks took a quick 1-0 lead off of game two starter Jose Capellan in the nightcap, but the Sox would put a crooked number on the board in the top of the second. The inning began with three straight singles by Place, Chiang, and Mike Jones. Wilmington starter Mario Santiago walked Zak Farkes to force in a run and tie the score at one, but then retired the next two batters to nearly escape the threat. One strike away from keeping the game tied, Che-Hsuan Lin blasted a grounder down the first base line, scoring two more to give Salem the 3-1 lead.

Following two homers in the previous game, Wilmington's Robinson blasted a third solo shot off Capellan to lead off the home half the second. In the third, David Lough's RBI single plated Mike Moustakas to knot things at three.

Things remained all square into the sixth, when Salem catcher Will Vazquez took a two strike pitch from Wilmington reliever Chris Chavez to deep center field. Blue Rock center fielder Derrick Robinson, playing too shallow, could not make the play, and Salem took the lead as Matt Sheely, pinch running for Chiang, scored easily from second base. After Vazquez' RBI double, the Sox added two more in the seventh off Chavez, both coming on an infield single by Sheely. With two in scoring position, Sheely's high chopper over the pitchers' mound plated Lin from third. Blue Rock second baseman Johnny Giavotella forced a wild throw to first, allowing Kalish to trot home all the way from second and give Salem a 6-3 edge.

The Red Sox went to the bullpen early in the second game, and Josh Papelbon recorded his best outing of the season. He tossed three and a third innings, including a stretch in which he retired eight in a row. He depared with a runner at first and one out in the last of the seventh. Southpaw Derrick Loop entered, walked two, and surrendered a single to make it 6-4 and put the tying runs in scoring position. With the bases loaded, Loop hung on for the save, striking out Paulo Orlando and inducing a pop-up from Clint Robinson to end it.

Salem improves to 8-6 as they head back home for their final homestand of April, a four-game set against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans beginning on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 at Lewis-Gale Field, as RHP Seth Garrison will toss for the Sox. The Pelicans have not yet announced a starter.

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Carolina League Stories from April 22, 2009


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