CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Pelicans Locked In, Blank Sox 2-0

Published on May 1, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Myrtle Beach, SC- For the second time in a week, Myrtle Beach lefthander Jeff Locke stymied the Salem Red Sox, working a no-hitter through six innings. Whereas last Saturday Salem rallied back to win in walk-off fashion, the Pelicans avoided dramatics tonight, shutting out Salem 2-0 by seven stupendous innings from Locke, who grew up as a Red Sox fan in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Locke picked up his first victory on the season by excelling against the Sox, striking out six batters and walking only two. The Red Sox only mustered two hits, both coming in the seventh inning, but Locke used a huge double play off the bat of Mike Jones to escape any damage before turning it over to the bullpen.

Jaye Chapman walked the only two batters he faced to begin the top of the eighth and was immediately replaced by Eric Barrett. Barrett proceeded to retire the Red Sox in order, as Salem stranded the potential tying runs aboard. Tommy Palica pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save, preserving the second straight Friday night shutout of Myrtle Beach over Salem. The Pelicans defeated the Red Sox 1-0 last Friday night at Lewis-Gale Field.

Cody Johnson's ninth home run of the season put the Pelicans up 1-0 to begin the last of the second. Myrtle Beach made it 2-0 on Jon Mark Owings' RBI double in the fourth.

Salem starter Eammon Portice was solid through six innings, but suffered the loss, his second of the season. Portice allowed just two runs on four hits, striking out a season high-eight batters with only one walk. Lefthanded reliever Jose Alvarez came on and pitched two perfect innings, continuing the stretch of scoreless frames by the Salem bullpen, but no offensive run support was to be found.

Myrtle Beach received a number of fantastic defensive plays behind the mound. Neither team made an error in the fast-paced game that was completed in 2:12.

The 11-11 Red Sox, 1-3 so far on their six-game road trip, look to right the ship on Saturday evening when Kyle Weiland makes his fifth start of the season against Carlos Rivas for Myrtle Beach. Rivas tossed five scoreless innings last Sunday at Lewis-Gale Field, outdueling Weiland in the Pelicans 4-3 victory to wrap up the last homestand in Salem.

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Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2009


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