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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Tejeda Blasts Red Sox Past Keys 10-3

April 24, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Frederick, MD (April 24, 2010) - For the second straight day in Frederick, the team who took the early lead could not find the winner's circle. Oscar Tejeda crushed two dingers and drove in four runs as Red Sox overcame early deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to soar past the Keys 10-3 on Saturday afternoon at Harry Grove Stadium. With his third and fourth homers of the season, Tejeda already has eclipsed his 2009 round-tripper total of three while playing for the Greenville Drive. The second-baseman went 2-5 to pick up his eighth multi-hit game of the season, and Will Middlebrooks went 3-5 with two RBI to complement Tejeda's offensive effort.

Salem found themselves behind early thanks to some uncharacteristically sloppy defense, as center-fielder Peter Hissey was charged with two errors in the first two innings. The Keys scored once in the second on a Jacob Julius RBI single and once more in the third on LJ Hoes' RBI single to take a 2-0 lead.

The Red Sox nearly had two runs of their own in the top of the third when Tim Federowicz crushed a screaming line drive down the left-field line. The baseball soared over the wall and was initially ruled a fair ball and a home run by home plate umpire Chris Graham. Frederick manager Orlando Gomez immediately came out to dispute the call, and after Graham huddled up with partner Doug Vines, the ruling was changed to a foul ball. That sent Salem manager Kevin Boles on to the field to argue and led to his ejection, the first of the season for the Red Sox skipper.

Still trailing 2-0 into the fourth, Tejeda bombed a two-out solo shot off Frederick starter Rick Zagone to break the seal on the Red Sox run column. But in the fifth, the Keys regained their two-run edge when Xavier Henry singled, stole second, and scored on Tejeda's fielding error, the third miscue of the game for the Sox.

Down 3-1 into the sixth, the Red Sox finally broke through with a three-run rally to take a 4-3 lead. Anthony Rizzo and Middlebrooks both doubled and Salem capitalized on Frederick's only error of the game when Bobby Stevens fumbled Tejeda's grounder to short. Salem tied the game on the error and took the lead a batter later when Alex Hassan flared a single to right field.

On top 4-3, the Sox again took advantage of Frederick mistakes in the seventh. Reliever Raul Rivero walked three straight Red Sox hitters with one out in the seventh. Ryan Lavarnway, who went 0-4 but did drive in two more runs, hit into a fielder's choice to make it 5-3. With two outs, Middlebrooks singled to give Salem a three-run edge. Then Tejeda, down in the count 0-2, crushed a colossal shot to left for a three-run homer that gave Salem a 9-3 lead. Two innings later, Salem added one more when Middlebrooks picked up his second RBI by driving in Rizzo to make it 10-3.

On the mound, Mitch Herold tossed two and a third scoreless out of the bullpen to earn his first Carolina League victory. Starter Stolmy Pimentel battled through four and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and received a no-decision. Though not a save situation, Kyle Fernandes became the third pitcher of the day for the Sox and threw two more shutout frames to finish off the triumph.

The victory improved Salem to 12-4 and set the stage for a Sunday rubber match at Harry Grove Stadium. The Red Sox send Brock Huntzinger to the mound against Keys' righty Ryan O'Shea in the series finale, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.

Salem returns home on Monday evening to begin a six-game homestand against Wilmington and Kinston at Lewis-Gale Field.

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