Vazquez Grand in 9-5 Salem Win
September 2, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Winston-Salem, NC (September 2, 2009) - Will Vazquez' grand slam was the climax to a seven-run third inning which helped the Red Sox dispatch the Dash 9-5 on Wednesday night at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Vazquez finished 3-4 with five RBI to lead Salem, while Anthony Rizzo, Zach Borowiak, and Brad Correll each finished with two hits apiece. The win allowed Salem to remain even with Kinston for the final playoff spot in the Southern Division, and the triumph also created a three-way log-jam atop the division, as the Sox, Tribe and Dash are all 32-33 in the second half with five to play.
Salem got a solid quality start from Stephen Fife on the hill, who escaped a bases-loaded, out-out jam in the second inning to keep the game scoreless for Salem's outburst in the third. Fife improved to 3-2, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one. Although Armando Zerpa struggled again out of the bullpen, Kyle Fernandes entered a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and induced a double-play pop-up to shallow center. Nice defense from shortstop Ryan Dent prevented any of the inherited runners from scoring. An inning later when Fernandes got into trouble, Jason Blackey emerged from the Red Sox bullpen and kept the two runners he inherited from crossing the plate. All in all, Red Sox relievers inherited five runners and none of them scored, a big reason why Salem was able to hang on for the win.
The Sox finished with 14 hits, but only scored in one more frame after the huge third inning. Salem sent ten men to the plate in the seven-run third. Winston cut the lead down to 7-3 before the Red Sox added a pair in the seventh to make it 9-3. Both Zerpa and Fernandes were charged with one run as the Dash recorded single tallies in the seventh and eighth, but Blackey earned his sixth save of the season with an inning and two thirds of scoreless ball. Blackey hit a man, but did not allow a hit or a walk and he struck out three.
Salem went 6-9 with runners in scoring position, with Correll, Jones, and Borowiak each driving in runs along with the quintet of RBI for Vazquez. Winston-Salem's squandering of opportunities throughout the evening led to 12 runners left on base for the Dash.
The fifth to last game of the regular season commences at 7:00 on Thursday night as the Red Sox and Dash meet for the fourth game of the series. Seth Garrison goes for Salem against Winston's Dylan Axelrod. If the Red Sox make the playoffs, they will return to face the Dash in the first round beginning next Wednesday night.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to a conflict with Redskins football, Thursday's broadcast will be heard exclusively on the worldwide web at www.salemsox.com and www.milb.com.
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Carolina League Stories from September 2, 2009
- Chisenhall, Phelps and Fedroff are Carolina League All-Stars - Kinston Indians
- Robinson Named To Postseason All-Star Team - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Rally Rocks Magic Number At Two - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Vazquez Grand in 9-5 Salem Win - Salem Red Sox
- Kinston Crushes Keys 14-3 - Kinston Indians
- K-Tribe Blows Out Keys - Frederick Keys
- P-Nats Comeback Stifled in Loss to Lynchburg - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Even Series With P-Nats - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg Closer Rodriguez Named To Postseason All-Star Squad - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Big Inning Propels Red Sox Past Dash and Into First Place Tie - Winston-Salem Dash
- Keys Players Earn League's Highest Honors - Frederick Keys
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Notes for Wednesday - Kinston Indians
- K-Tribe Attendance Increases Again in 2009 - Kinston Indians
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