CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Heads to Potomac One Game Behind Kinston for Final Playoff Spot

Published on August 20, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (August 20, 2009) - After waiting through a 61 minute rain delay, the Lynchburg Hillcats eked past the Salem Red Sox 4-3 to take two out of three from their southern Virginia rival. Both Hillcat victories came by the slimmest of margins, and the Cats only survived on Thursday when Jon Hee's sharp line drive to shortstop became a game-ending double play as the Sox squandered a bases loaded opportunity. Since Kinston lost 10-6 to Myrtle Beach, the Red Sox, despite the defeat, remain a game behind the Indians as they head into a weekend series at Potomac.

Nate Adcock improved to 3-0 as a Hillcat with five solid innings on the mound. The righthander, who was acquired in the deal that netted the Mariners Jack Wilson and Ian Snell, allowed just one earned run (two total) on four hits, while striking out three and not walking anyone. Ronald Uviedo piggybacked Adcock and went the rest of the way for Lynchburg, narrowly earning his second save of the season.

Lynchburg took advantage of the fact that Salem starter Eammon Portice hit the first batter of the ballgame, as Chase d'Arnoud took his base and then rounded the bases on a RBI single from Jordy Mercer (preceded by a grounder to first that advanced to second). Portice encountered control issues through his three and a third innings on the hill, his shortest outing of the year with the exception of a rain-shortened three inning stint back in April. The four walks he issued matched a season high and he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits. Though the Cats only mustered the pair of base knocks against Portice, Presley's two run homer that followed a leadoff walk in the third inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave Lynchburg a lead they would not relinquish. Presley finished 2-4 with a homer and a double, cataloguing two of Lynchburg's five hits in the ballgame.

The unsung heroes of the game for the Red Sox were Kyle Fernandes and Robert Coello, who combined to shut down the Cats over the final five and two thirds innings out of the Red Sox bullpen. They each struck out four batters and only surrendered a total of three hits.

Trailing 4-1 after three and a half, the Red Sox made it 4-2 on Brad Correll's leadoff blast, his first homer in a Salem jersey. An unearned run in the seventh inched the Sox to within a run, but Salem stranded the tying run at third.

In the last of the ninth, Correll doubled to opened the frame, preceding a walk to Anthony Rizzo that put the tying and winning runs on base. Tim Federowicz bunted the baserunners into scoring position with one out, and David Mailman was intentionally walked to load the bases and create a force everywhere for a possible double play. Although not the precise twin-killer that Lynchburg had set the table for, Jon Hee's liner towards center field was snared by the shortstop Jordy Mercer, who quickly flipped to Chase d'Arnoud to complete the double play and conclude the long evening of baseball.

Salem turns to Stephen Fife on Friday as they open up a three game series in Woodbridge against the Potomac Nationals. Will Atwood gets the start for the P-Nats, who are a game and a half behind Wilmington in their Northern Division playoff chase.

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Carolina League Stories from August 20, 2009


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