CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

De Los Santos Blasts Cats Past Sox 5-4

Published on September 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Lynchburg, VA - With the score knotted at four in the bottom of the ninth, extra innings appeared imminent when Kyle Fernandes retired the first two batters. Jose De Los Santos, the nine-hole hitter known much more for his speed than his power, jumped ahead in the count 3-1. Fernandes tossed a fastball right down the pike, and De Los Santos crushed it over the left-field wall for a game-ending walkoff round-tripper, giving the Hillcats a 5-4 come-from-behind win and a commanding two games to none lead in the Mills Cup Championship Series. Lynchburg scored one in the eighth to tie it at four before De Los Santos' two-out dinger in the ninth gave the Cats the dramatic victory.

After beginning his pro career in the Domincan Summer League in 2004 and 2005, De Los Santos had not homered since coming to America at the beginning of the '06 season. With 98 steals since then, including 53 this season, Fernandes was fearful of walking the base-swiping threat. Little did everyone know that De Los Santos would shock everybody with the long fly, igniting a joyous celebration of Hillcats at home after he motored around the bases.

The loss pushes the Red Sox backs to the wall as the series shifts to Salem on Thursday. All three remaining games, if necessary, will take place at Lewis-Gale Field.

Game two matched up Stephen Fife and Rudy Owens, and both pitchers appeared dominant in the early innings. Through the first four, the only run for either club came on Ryan Dent's solo homer in the bottom of the third. The Red Sox' nine-hole hitter went 2-3 in the ballgame and gave Salem a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, through four innings, Fife only allowed one baserunner and retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced in overpowering fashion.

In the fifth, the Hillcats got a leadoff double from Kris Watts, but Fife retired the next two batters harmlessly. Alex Presley walked to bring up De Los Santos, who chopped softly to the mound. Fife fielded, threw high to first, and on a controversial ruling, pulled Anthony Rizzo off the bag, allowing De Los Santos to reach safely and permitting Watts to score and tie the game. Rizzo erupted at the call from first plate umpire Stu Scheurwater, claiming he held onto the bag with his foot while reaching for the ball. Red Sox Manager Chad Epperson came on to argue, but to no avail, and it was ruled a throwing error on Fife.

Further damage came a batter later when Chase d'Arnoud doubled down the left field line, and the two fastest Hillcats, Presley and De Los Santos, both raced around the bases to make it 3-1 Lynchburg. All three runs in the fifth were unearned, but the bumpy inning was enough to prevent Fife from returning in the sixth.

Salem put a couple runners on in the seventh and knocked Owens out of the game after six and a third innings. With two aboard, Chih-Hsien Chiang crushed a three-run homer to right, catapulting Salem back to the lead 4-3. It was Chiang's second round-tripper of the most season and put the Sox in solid position for their bullpen to try to close it out.

But while Robert Coello tossed a pair of scoreless frames, Jason Blackey struggled in the eighth, unable to retire any of the four batters he faced, walking three and yielding a bunt single. A bases-loaded walk tied it at four and brought Fernandes into the game with nobody out. Somehow Fernandes wiggled out of the threat and kept the game tied, using a strikeout and a double-play ball to keep it 4-4. He also recorded two outs in the ninth, but the deep drive surrendered to De Los Santos handed him the loss as Lynchburg prevailed.

Following Wednesday's off-day, Kyle Weiland will take the baseball for Salem in game three against Lynchburg's Jeff Locke. Thursday's first pitch is set for 7:05 at Lewis-Gale Field.

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Carolina League Stories from September 15, 2009


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