CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Nationals Thump Red Sox 11-0

Published on August 21, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Potomac, MD (August 21, 2009)- Perhaps, following a resurgence that propels the Red Sox into the playoffs, the players will be able to laugh at Friday's rock-bottom loss. Until then, it will simply be a laugher that no one affiliated with the Salem Sox finds funny.

The Potomac Nationals hit five homers in the first two innings and rolled to an 11-0 demolition over the Salem Red Sox on Friday at Pfitzner Stadium. Jesus Valdez blasted two bombs in his first two at-bats, and Danny Espinosa, Brian Peacock, and Michael Martinez also went yard in a preposterous derby that left the Sox stunned and speechless. Starting pitcher Stephen Fife faced 10 batters, recorded three outs, and surrendered four homers before he was removed with nobody out in the second inning. A 7-0 game at that point, the Nationals scored four more times over the next two innings against Armando Zerpa to extend the lead to double digits.

Potomac finished with 15 hits, with six different starters compiling multi-hit evenings. Valdez went 3-5 with the pair of dingers and led the way with four RBI. Peacock belted a three-run homer in the first inning for three RBI of his own, while Martinez drove in a pair along with his two hits and two runs scored. Although Potomac failed to score after the third inning, the early offensive eruption was more than enough to pace the Nats, who moved to within a half game of the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Northern Division pennant race.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, fell two games behind Kinston in the Southern Division wild card race and were shutout for the 14th time this season. Four different players registered one hit a piece in an evening when Will Atwood stymied the Sox through five and a trio of relievers combined to blank Salem over the final four frames. Salem had chances with runners on, but went 0-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.

If not for Josh Papelbon, the already tumultuous evening may have been even more disastrous. Papelbon tossed four and a third scoreless innings out of the Salem pen, just two days after throwing two and two thirds scoreless frames in relief. With the effort, he lowered his season ERA to 2.86. Derrick Loop tossed a perfect inning as well for the Red Sox, but the dearth of offense gave Salem little chance.

The Red Sox and Nationals reunite on Saturday evening, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35. Seth Garrison looks to rebound from his shortest outing of the season against Potomac's Trevor Holder.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to a conflict with Washington Redskins preseason football, Saturday's game will only be heard online at www.salemsox.com and www.milb.com.

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Carolina League Stories from August 21, 2009


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