Lin's Blast Opens the Floodgates in Red Sox Rout
May 16, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA - Taking advantage of wild pitching and sloppy fielding, the Red Sox scored a dozen unanswered runs after falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first, garnering the middle game of the three-game set 12-3 over the Dash. Center-fielder Che-Hsuan Lin, who had driven in only five runs in 29 games played, totaled five RBIs on Saturday night alone, setting the tone in the first inning with a three-run homer to give the Sox a lead they would not relinquish. The incessant run support was appreciated by Salem starter Dave McKae, who settled down after giving up three runs in the first inning to pick up his first victory as a member of the Red Sox organization. After spending the past four years in the Giants system, McKae tossed six innings, yielding just the three runs on seven hits while striking out four and not walking anybody. Ryne Miller pitched two scoreless frames in relief before handing the ball off to Josh Papelbon, who tossed a quick ninth inning to close it out.
Winston-Salem starter Levi Maxwell took the hill with an 0-5 record and a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Almost immediately, he hurt his own cause. Kris Negron, leading off the inning for Salem, grounded back to the Maxwell on the mound. The Dash right-hander easily caught the baseball, but launched a throw well over the head of first-baseman Jim Gallagher. Negron was at second base, and the sloppy start was a poor omen for the Dash. Following a couple singles and a couple outs, Lin came to the plate with the Sox trailing 3-1. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Lin worked the count to 3-2 before launching a three-run shot into the screen beyond the Mini-Monster in left at Lewis-Gale Field. It was Lin's first homer of the season, and the Sox led 4-3 after one wild inning.
Up 5-3 in the third, the bases were loaded with two outs for Matt Sheely. Once again, the best defensive team in the league, at least statistically, faltered. Winston-Salem shortstop Greg Paiml dropped a routine fly to shallow left field, allowing two more runs to score as Salem led 7-3. The Sox tacked on two more in the sixth with two outs as Jason Place drilled an RBI double and Luis Exposito drove him in with a single. In the eighth, Lin cracked another bases-loaded base hit, singling up the middle to make it 11-3. The Sox added their final tally on Aaron Reza's grounder to short that went for a fielder's choice.
Five of the nine Red Sox offensive starters finished with multiple hits, with Lin leading the way with a homer and five RBI. Place also went 2-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored for the Salem club that improved to 19-17 and moved a game and a half of the Dash in the Southern Division. Winston-Salem starter Levi Maxwell lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs (only one of which was earned) and falling to 0-6 on the season. The visitors walked eight batters in addition to their four errors defensively, while Salem pitchers did not walk anybody for the third time this season.
The Sox and Dash will match up Sunday afternoon for the rubber game of the three-game set, with Salem's Eammon Portice taking the hill against Winston-Salem's Johnnie Lowe. The finale matinee is scheduled to begin at 2:05.
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