Salem Receives 10 Walks But Squanders Numerous Chances in Defeat
July 26, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA (July 26, 2009) - Devin Ivany hit a two-run homer off Robert Coello to break a 2-2 ninth inning tie en route to Potomac's 6-4 triumph on Sunday evening at Lewis-Gale Field. A low-scoring duel for eight innings, the Nationals outscored Salem 4-2 in the ninth as the Red Sox final rally fell short. After Ivany cracked the dinger against Coello, the Nats plated two more runs off Josh Papelbon, the tallies that proved to be the difference.
From start to finish, Potomac pitchers escaped threats that they, in large part, brought upon themselves. The Nationals walked an absurd ten Red Sox hitters, but only one of those baserunners would come around to score. In the first five innings, Salem grounded into three double plays that mitigated Red Sox momentum. Both teams left nine runners on base in the game.
Nationals' starter Adam Carr recorded one of the most preposterous stat lines ever: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K, 7 BB. Somehow, someway, he tossed four scoreless frames despite walking two batters each in three different innings. The Nats' bullpen only walked three more the rest of the way, but they could not hold onto a 2-0 lead.
Salem's first hit of the ballgame came on a Zach Borowiak single in the top of the sixth. Following a walk and a ground ball that moved the runners into scoring position, the Red Sox cut the 2-0 deficit in half on Anthony Rizzo's sacrifice fly. Still trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Rizzo once again came through with an RBI double that scored Daniel Nava from second. Nava, who walked for the third time in the ballgame to begin the inning, was the only player whose free pass led to a run. Now a 2-2 game, Chih-Hsien Chiang grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice and Salem was unable to take their first lead.
The tie game lasted just two batters, for after Coello walked Tim Pahuta to begin the ninth, he surrendered the deep homer by Ivany. Coello left with an injury, Papelbon entered, and the Nationals utilized a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a two-RBI connection from Dan Nelson to make it 6-2. Nelson finished 3-5 with two doubles and three RBI and also made a sensational leaping catch in left-field to rob Che-Hsuan Lin of a base hit in the bottom of the ninth.
Salem went down fighting, as Jon Hee singled to begin the ninth and Kris Negron doubled to move Hee to third. Lin hammered a ball to deep left field, but Nelson made a superb defensive play and the potential extra-base hit was simply a sacrifice fly that made it 6-3. With two outs, Nava doubled to score Negron and keep the Sox alive at 6-4. But pinch-hitter Tim Federowicz grounded out to third base and the game and the series belonged to the Nationals.
Bryan Price tossed five plus innings for the Red Sox and received a no-decision. Price struck out six while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. Kyle Fernandes dazzled with three scoreless frames out of the Salem pen before Coello and Papelbon were each tagged with a pair of runs in the ninth.
While the Red Sox are 4-2 at Pfitzner Stadium this season, the Nationals owned Salem at Lewis-Gale Field, winning eight of ten meetings inside the Red Sox' park. Salem finished their six game homestand at 3-3, despite the fact that the opponent scored the first run in every single game this past week. The Red Sox last scored first on Sunday, July 19 in Lynchburg, in a game they eventually lost 10-3. Despite the second straight Sunday setback, Salem remains in first place in the Carolina League South, two and a half games ahead of the Dash and four and a half ahead of the Pelicans.
Salem now heads to Frederick to begin a seven-game road swing against the Keys and Blue Rocks. The Red Sox will activate Eammon Portice off the disabled list to make the start at Harry Grove Stadium on Monday night. The Keys are expected to counter with Zach Britton, who in three starts against Salem this year has yet to surrender a single earned run. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00.
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Carolina League Stories from July 26, 2009
- Lynchburg Routs Frederick In Series Finale - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Dash Stifle Pelicans In Series Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lynchburg Collects 20 Hits, Beat Keys 11-4 - Frederick Keys
- Salem Receives 10 Walks But Squanders Numerous Chances in Defeat - Salem Red Sox
- Nats Use Ninth to Blast Past Sox - Potomac Nationals
- Dash Edge Pelicans, Take Series Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans Unable to Overcome Defecit - Winston-Salem Dash
- Moustakas Leads Blue Rocks Past Kinston - Kinston Indians
- Nationals Prepare for 6:05 Tilt Versus Salem - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Prepare For Frederick Sunday Evening - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Red Sox Game Notes for July 26 - Salem Red Sox
- Indians Game Notes for July 26 - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg And Frederick Split Double Dip - Lynchburg Hillcats
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