CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Lavarnway Blasts Power Salem Past Lynchburg 7-2 In Series Finale

Published on April 15, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Lynchburg, VA (April 15, 2010) - Salem DH Ryan Lavarnway belted a pair of two-out bombs and starting pitcher Fabian Williamson spun five shutout innings as the Sox eased past the Hillcats 7-2 on Thursday evening. Lavarnway finished with five RBI, all coming with two-outs, to secure Salem's fifth victory on their season opening seven-game road trip. At 5-2, the Sox now return to Lewis-Gale Field for 13 of their next 16, kicking off with a seven-game homestand beginning Friday evening against Myrtle Beach.

Lavarnway's first dinger, a two-run blast in the first, occurred only after Lynchburg first baseman Carlos Mendez booted Anthony Rizzo's routine grounder. Rizzo reached on the miscue, extending the inning and allowing Hillcat starter Curtis Partch to serve up the gopher ball to Lavarnway. The towering shot cleared the 16-foot wall in straight-away center field to give Salem a 2-0 lead before Williamson threw a single pitch.

Taking the mound with a two-run edge, Williamson took control, allowing just three baserunners in five innings. The Hillcats mustered only a single, a bloop double, and a walk against Williamson, who struck out three and improved to 2-0 on the young season, sinking his ERA to 0.90 (1 earned run allowed in 10 innings).

The Sox tacked on two more runs in the fifth to make it 4-0 and blew it open in the seventh when Lavarnway once again came through with two outs. Jon Hee, who had already connected on his second double of the game, was the runner at third, while Tim Federowicz drew a walk and remained at first when Lavarnway stepped in. He promptly drilled a three-run laser shot down the left-field line off reliever Scott Gaffney, making it 7-zip. The home runs were the first two of the season for Lavarnway, who led the Red Sox farm system in homers in 2009, jacking 21 for Greenville.

Lavarnway also joined teammate Anthony Rizzo as the only Carolina League players to record multi-homer games so far in 2010. Rizzo clocked two round-trippers, both solo shots, this past Sunday against Potomac.

Michael Lee and Will Latimer came on from the Salem bullpen to finish the contest over the final four innings. Lee surrended two runs, but just one earned, over his two and two thirds innings before Latimer struck out three Hillcats in his inning and a third to wrap it up.

The action now shifts back home as the Red Sox welcome the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to Lewis-Gale Field for the 2010 Home Opener. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with Salem's Caleb Clay set to oppose Zeke Spruill for Myrtle Beach.

The first 3,000 fans to arrive at Salem Memorial Ballpark will receive free Salem Red Sox 2010 magnet schedules, and everyone will be welcome to enjoy the pregame live music and rejoice during the postgame fireworks.

Check out the Salem Red Sox Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from April 15, 2010


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