CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Kinston Crushes Salem 12-2 in Series Opener

Published on April 30, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA - Kinston pounded 19 hits and erupted for 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to blow out Salem 12-2 on Friday night at Lewis-Gale Field. Jason Kipnis led the Indians with four hits, including a first inning solo homer, as Kinston scored early and often to hand the Sox their most lopsided home loss this season. Kinston improved to 9-12, while Salem fell to 14-7. But despite the ugly setback, the Red Sox remain only one game behind first-place Winston-Salem, who also lost tonight.

Salem starter Stolmy Pimentel flirted with serious danger in each of the first three innings, yet yielded only one run in the first and another in the second, largely thanks to three double play grounders that enabled him to squirm out of trouble. He had no such fortune in the fourth, as Kinston scored seven times on six hits and two walks to take a 9-1 lead. Pimentel lasted only three and two-thirds innings and surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits. Righthanded reliever Jeremy Kehrt replaced Pimentel in the fourth and yielded an additional run and then three more in the fifth.

Aside from going 4-4, Kipnis scored three runs before he was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Nate Recknagel and Kyle Bellows each recorded three hits, Donnie Webb went 2-5 and led the Indians with four RBI in the game. Webb knocked a bases-loaded three-run double into the gap in the fourth inning to begin the onslaught that chased Pimentel from the contest.

Salem tallied single runs in the second and sixth innings, managing just four hits (all singles) in the game. Oscar Tejeda and Ryan Dent each finished with a hit and an RBI, while Ryan Lavarnway went 0-1 but worked a season-best three walks. Will Middlebrooks drilled a fourth-inning single, and Jon Hee, who pinch-hit for Middlebrooks in the sixth, collected Salem's fourth hit, drilling a grounder into center field.

The Red Sox were stymied by Kinston starter Kelvin De La Cruz, who picked up the victory and improved to 2-2 with five strong innings, yielding just two hits and one run, while striking out six. Bryce Stowell relieved De La Cruz in the sixth and gave up one run in two and two-thirds innings, while David Roberts retired all four men he faced over the final inning and a third.

Salem seeks to even up their three-game series with Kinston on Saturday night at 6:05, with Brock Huntzinger taking the mound against Nick Hagadone. Hagadone, a lefthander out of the University of Washington, pitched for Salem manager Kevin Boles in Greenville in 2008 and 2009. The former Red Sock farmhand was traded from Boston to Cleveland as part of the Victor Martinez deal at the 2009 trade deadline.

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Carolina League Stories from April 30, 2010


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