CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Dominant Bullpen Carries Sox to Winning Month

Published on April 30, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Kinston, NC- In a game filled with twists and turns, the Salem Red Sox used Kris Negron's hustle, Che-Tsuan Lin's moxie, and a stretch of eight and a third scoreless frames from the bullpen to prevail 6-5 in 13 innings over the Kinston Indians on Thursday evening at Historic Grainger Stadium. The win brings the Red Sox into a three-way tie for first place at 11-10, and it also secures a winning first month of the season for Salem, who snapped a three-game losing streak in the process.

Negron's sprint down the first-base line with two-outs in the top of the 13th was just one of the many key plays in a game full of turning points. With Mike Jones at 3rd base and two outs, Negron smacked a unique towering grounder, that spiked into the air while hugging the third base line. The pitcher, Garrison Campfield, snagged it, pivoted, tossed to first, and was disappointed to see Negron stride their safely. The Red Sox shortstop threw his arms out to his sides making a safe sign as he crossed the imaginary finish line, which allowed Jones to score the go-ahead run and make it 6-5. But it was not over yet.

Salem's Lin, despite an 0-6 evening, dramatically altered the game with his multi-faceted defense, gloves, legs, and, when it counted, his cannon arm. After snagging a deep drive by Matt Brown with his back to the wall to begin the bottom of the 13th, Kinston's Ron Rivas walked, representing the tying run. The next batter, Roman Pena, drilled a fly ball to the left-center field gap. Rivas motored towards second base with likely intentions of scoring if it gapped the outfielders, a mistake he would pay for. Lin glided into position to make the running catch before unleashing an approximately 300-feet long chuck to first base, which one hopped into Mike Jones' glove. Rivas was out on the unorthodox double play, Lin threw his arms in the air, and the Red Sox were victorious, 6-5.

The win was made possible by the Salem bullpen, which entered the game with an already superb 2.89 ERA. On this night, they blanked Kinston over eight and a third innings in relief of Dave McKae. Derrick Loop, Jason Rice, Robert Coello, and Josh Papelbon each threw multiple innings and combined to strike out nine with only two walks. Papelbon picked up the win, his second of the season.

Salem broke a 1-1 tie in the third on Chih-Hsien Chiang's second three-run jack of the season, but the 4-1 lead was erased when Kinston scored four times off McKae in the fifth to lead 5-4. The Red Sox tied it up in the eighth, when Ryan Kalish scored on a Luis Exposito bases loaded ground-out. Kalish reached base five times, with three hits and two walks, while Negron also finished with three hits, in addition to the unquantifiable hustle play in the 13th inning.

The Red Sox and Indians head in separate directions following Thursday's classic clash, but will reunite on Monday in Salem for a four-game series at Lewis-Gale Field. The Sox begin a three-game weekend battle with Myrtle Beach on Friday night, with righthander Eammon Portice set to tangle with Pelican lefty Jeff Locke at 7:00.

Note: Before the game, the Red Sox placed Jason Blackey on the disabled list. Righthanded pitcher Robert Coello replaced him on the roster and pitched two scoreless innings.

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Carolina League Stories from April 30, 2009


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