CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Navarro and Negron Each Tally Three Hits in Series Opening Triumph

Published on July 14, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (July 14, 2009) - In his first start since being relegated to the bullpen on May 31, Jose Capellan demonstrated a All-Star-caliber performance, using quality control and an arsenal of offspeed pitches to blank the Dash for five strong innings. With a little help from his defense and a couple big innings from the offense, Capellan led the way in Salem's 8-0 romping of Winston-Salem to open the three-game series at Lewis-Gale Field. Armando Zerpa tossed two dominant innings in his Advanced-A debut, and Jason Rice escaped from a precarious bases-loaded, one out situation in the ninth to preserve the shutout for the Sox, their fifth in 18 games to begin the second half.

The offense attack was led by the middle infielders. Shortstop Yamaico Navarro finished 3-5 with a solo homer, while second-baseman Kris Negron went 3-4 with two singles, a double, and a pair of RBI. Adding to the infield production was third-baseman Zach Borowiak, who went 2-4 with 2 RBI for Salem.

Jose Capellan twice faced bases-loaded jams, but both times he wriggled out of danger. In the second inning with two away, he induced a Dale Mollenhauer fielder's choice grounder to second. Three innings later, Capellan surrendered a screaming line drive that fortunately was belted directly at Borowiak at third base. With one out, the catch was made and quickly converted into a double play as Borowiak fired to Negron at second. Over five innings, Capellan yielded just three hits and two walks, while picking up five strikeouts. Capellan improved to 5-2 on the season.

Falling to 6-4, Winston-Salem starter Johnnie Lowe blanked the Red Sox over the first three innings, but Navarro singled to lead off the fourth and the Red Sox began to figure out the Dash righthander. After Anthony Rizzo popped to the shortstop, four straight batters reached as Tim Federowicz doubled, David Mailman walked to load the bases, and the Borowiak and Negron each cracked bags-full RBI singles to make it 2-0. With Che-Hsuan Lin batting, Mailman scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 after four.

An inning later, Navarro hammered a line drive that may still have been rising when it cleared the left field wall for his third dinger of the season, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead. Salem added four more insurance tallies in the eighth inning, a frame in which Borowiak, Negron, and Mike Jones each drilled RBI doubles off Winston reliever Wander Perez.

In his Red Sox debut, Zerpa, who joined the Salem roster on Sunday after pitching with Greenville for the first few months of the season, experience zero turbulence in his introduction to Carolina League baseball. The Venezuelan lefthander retired six of the seven batters he faced and struck out a pair over two scoreless innings. Rice compiled three strikeouts and stranded the bases-loaded in the ninth to save the shutout for the Sox. Winston-Salem left 12 runners on base in the game, going 0-6 with runners in scoring position.

The Dash and Sox reunite on Wednesday evening for a 7:05 start at Lewis-Gale Field. Bryan Price gets the ball for Salem opposite Anthony Carter for Winston.

Check out the Salem RidgeYaks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from July 14, 2009


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.

OurSports Central