CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Moustakas Blast Rocks Sox as Wilmington Takes Opener 5-2

Published on May 18, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (May 18, 2009) - When Wilmington's Paulo Orlando scampered home from third base on a wild pitch in the second inning, the Blue Rocks led 1-0 and appeared in control of a pitcher's duel between Everett Teaford and Kyle Weiland. The score remained 1-0 into the sixth inning when Mike Moustakas provided more than enough separation. Perhaps Weiland was tiring; perhaps the gusting wind that had been blowing in and handicapping the hitters finally calmed down. Either way, Moustakas' three run homer made it 4-0, and the visiting Blue Rocks prevailed 5-2 on a cool Monday evening in front of 2,040 at Lewis-Gale Field.

Wilmington starter Everett Teaford improved to 4-1 with a gem of an outing, allowing just one hit and one walk over six superb innings. Weiland was nearly an equal through the first five frames, but the Salem righthander got battered in the sixth, giving up four more runs as the Rocks led 5-0 through six. Weiland suffered the loss, dropping to 1-4, and was charged with five runs, four earned, on six hits over six innings, picking up six strikeouts and one walk.

Salem's Matt Sheely was the only Red Sock to record a hit over the first seven innings, a two-out single in the third. In the eighth, however, for the first time all night, the Sox threatened offensively. With Wilmington reliever Chris Chavez on the hill, Luis Exposito led off with a single, a feat that was quickly repeated by Che-Hsuan Lin. After a Jered Stanley strike out, Aaron Reza skied to center field, picking up the RBI on the first Red Sox run as Exposito scored from third. Sheely picked up his second base knock with two outs, but Kris Negron struck out to end the threat with Salem trailing 5-1.

In the ninth, the Red Sox added another run on a string of hits from Jones, Jason Place, and Lin, bringing the tying run to the plate in the presence of Stanley. Wilmington manager Brian Rupp called in a fresh arm, though, and Juan Abreu picked up the save by striking out Stanley to finish the contest.

David Lough went 3-4 for the Blue Rocks, while Moustakas singled in addition to his three-run homer. The Red Sox bullpen, meanwhile, tossed three more shutout innings. Kyle Fernandes struck out two over two scoreless frames, while Josh Papelbon worked around a couple baserunners in the ninth. Over the last eight games, the Red Sox relievers have allowed only one run during the last 26.1 innings pitched.

Salem and Wilmington await a rematch in game two of the four-game set on Tuesday night, as Alex Caldera throws for the Rocks against Jose Capellan for the Sox. Baseball will commence at 7:05.

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Carolina League Stories from May 18, 2009


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