Red Sox Overcome 3-0 Deficit to Knock Off Blue Rocks Saturday Night
August 29, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA - At one point on Saturday night, Salem trailed Wilmington 3-0 and Kinston, the Sox' competitor in the wild card race, held an 8-0 second inning lead over Potomac. As of 8:45 PM, however, Salem used an Anthony Rizzo walk-off single to surpass the Blue Rocks by a 4-3 score, while the Nationals had gotten to within two runs of the Indians through five innings at Grainger Stadium. All in all, an important evening for the Salem Sox as their playoff hopes remained bright behind another stellar performance from Kyle Weiland on the bump.
Although the Blue Rocks tallied single runs in each of the first, third, and fifth innings, Weiland went a season-high seven strong on the hill for his seventh quality start of the season. He struck out Derrick Robinson on three pitches to open the game, then induced a 5-3 ground-out from Johnny Giavotella. With two outs and the bases empty, Mike Moustakas belted a solo homer to right field, the first round-tripper surrendered by Weiland since May 23, a stretch of 83 innings without allowing a homer. Moustakas now owns two of the four dingers given up by Weiland on the season.
The second Blue Rock run was manufactured after a leadoff hit-by-pitch in the top of the third. Ryan Eigsti was hit, bunted up to second, and driven in by Derrick Robinson's single, making it 2-0. Two innings later, the Rocks added to their lead with an RBI single from Giavotella, and halfway through the ballgame it was 3-0.
Salem finally scratched the surface against Eduardo Paulino in the bottom of the fifth when the red-hot Chih-Hsien Chiang belted his sixth double of the homestand to open the frame. After David Mailman flew out to center, Zach Borowiak singled to drive in Chiang and make it 3-1. An inning later, the Red Sox used four singles to rally for two runs and tie it at three. Jon Hee, Rizzo, Brad Correll, and Chiang each contributed base hits to make it all square after six.
Both starters went seven innings, allowed three runs, and recorded 1-2-3 sevenths to punctuate their performances. In the top of the eighth, the Blue Rocks loaded the bases with two outs off Robert Coello, but Paulo Orlando popped up to squander the potential opportunity. Likewise, the Red Sox packed the bags with runners in the bottom of the inning, but Kelvin Villa struck out Mailman to strand all three. Josh Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth, pitching around a single and an error to keep things all square into the bottom of the ninth, setting the table for Salem's fourth walk-off win of the season.
Zach Borowiak received a six-pitch walk to open the inning and moved to second on Ryan Dent's sacrifice bunt. After a wild pitch allowed Borowiak to scurry over to third base with one out, Wilmington elected to intentionally walk Che-Hsuan Lin and Hee to load the bases and create a force everyone for Rizzo. On a 1-1 pitch, Rizzo sharply pounded a chopper up the middle, past the dive of the shortstop Seratelli, bringing the winning run across the plate. As Borowiak scored, the Red Sox dugout stormed the field in exultation of their comeback win.
The Red Sox will try to make it three out of four against the Blue Rocks on Sunday, with Dave McKae getting the ball against Danny Duffy. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 at Lewis-Gale Field.
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Carolina League Stories from August 29, 2009
- Hillcats split doubleheader - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Waring Hits His 26th Homerun of the Season in Frederick Win - Frederick Keys
- Nats Epic Comeback Falls Short in Kinston - Potomac Nationals
- Wilmington Allows Three-Run Advantage to Slip Away - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Red Sox Overcome 3-0 Deficit to Knock Off Blue Rocks Saturday Night - Salem Red Sox
- Cody Johnson provides the power in a losing effort - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Split Doubleheader with Hillcats - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Game Notes for August 29 - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Game Notes for August 29 - Lynchburg Hillcats
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