Sox Snap Skid, Steal Series Finale 2-1
May 21, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA (May 21, 2009)- Kris Negron was all ready in the batters' box to knock home the game-winning hit and become the hero. The Red Sox had runners at the corners with one out in a tie ballgame in the bottom of the ninth, and Negron was standing in awaiting the 2-1 pitch. The infielders and outfielders for the Blue Rocks were all playing in, hoping Negron would falter. Eduardo Paulino, the righthander who blew the 1-0 Wilmington lead in the eighth inning was still on the hill, and in one fell swoop, the game ended with Negron an innocent bystander among the Sox walk-off celebration.
Instead of Negron connecting for a walk-off hit, Paulino chucked a pick-off attempt over to first, bouncing it past Clint Robinson down the right-field line. Luis Exposito, running at third, easily trotted across home plate for the winning run to end the game as Salem salvaged the finale of the four-game series and snapped their three-game losing skid. For a team that needed a win, the Red Sox reacted by mobbing Exposito, who had singled to start the inning off Paulino. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zak Farkes and taking third on a passed ball that bounced off the glove of Wilmington catcher Matt Morizio, it was a throwing error that handed the victory to Salem.
The 2-1 triumph made a winner out of Jason Rice, who struck out three over his two scoreless innings in relief. Rice improved to 1-1 and picked up his first victory as a member of the Red Sox organization, having spent the past few seasons as a White Sox farmhand before Boston selected him in the Rule 5 Draft this past December. Robert Coello also tossed a pair of shutout frames out of the Sox bullpen, lowering his ERA to 0.59. Dave McKae, who allowed just one run over five innings on the hill, did not factor in the decision but kept the Sox in the game with another solid performance.
Paulino absorbed the defeat for Wilmington, as the righty gave up single runs in the eighth and the ninth, wasting a superb start by lefthander Ray Liotta. Liotta took a no-decision, despite six shutout innings giving up just four hits.
Wilmington scored their only run of the game in the second, when Jamar Walton scored on Derrick Robinson's sacrifice fly to center field. It remained 1-0 into the eighth, when the Red Sox used a Jon Hee RBI single to knot the score at one. Though the Red Sox had the bases loaded with one out, both Mike Jones and Che-Hsuan Lin popped up as the Sox squandered the opportunity. An inning later, there would be a different result.
Salem picked up a game as Winston-Salem lost 9-6 to Myrtle Beach, and now the Red Sox have a game and a half lead over the Dash heading into their three-game series at Wake Forest Baseball Park this weekend. The action begins Friday evening at 7:00 PM, as Eammon Portice faces Johnny Lowe in a battle of right-handers. Neither Portice or Lowe factored into the decision this past Sunday when they started at Lewis-Gale Field and the Red Sox won 7-5 thanks to a four-run sixth inning.
• Discuss this story on the Carolina League message board...
Carolina League Stories from May 21, 2009
- Keys pitchers silence Lynchburg bats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe falls in extras 4-3 - Kinston Indians
- Burgess Blast in 10th Boosts P-Nats to Victory - Potomac Nationals
- Johnson blasts Pelicans to split - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Moustakas Extends Hit Streak to 12, Rocks Settle for Series Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Cody Johnson Powers Pelicans Past Dash - Winston-Salem Dash
- Sox Snap Skid, Steal Series Finale 2-1 - Salem Red Sox
- Beato Tosses Six Solid Innings in 3-2 Win Over Hillcats - Frederick Keys
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
