CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Sneaks Past Myrtle Beach 5-4

Published on June 6, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (June 6, 2010) - Home runs from Peter Hissey and Ryan Lavarnway propelled the Red Sox to a 5-4 triumph over the Pelicans in Sunday's series finale at Lewis-Gale Field. Trailing 3-0 after half an inning, the resilient Red Sox battled back behind their dynamite bullpen, with three relievers combining to allow just two hits and one unearned run over seven super innings. After dropping the series opener by six runs on Thursday night, Salem took three straight from Myrtle Beach by margins of one, two, and one run. Through 10 meetings in 2010, the Salem Sox are now 9-1 against the Pelicans.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the last of the third, Hissey belted his first professional round-tripper to lead off the inning against Pelican lefty Matt Crim. The deep fly to right landed on the top of the wall and kicked over, providing a humorous moment when Hissey's teammates appeared to give him the silent treatment upon his return to the dugout. After the initial wave of being ignored, he received the expected congratulatory high fives from the rest of the squad. The home run came on Hissey's 639th regular season at-bat as a pro.

Two innings later, Lavarnway crushed a three-run drive that barely crept inside the left-field foul pole to give the Red Sox their first lead at 5-3. Lavarnway's dinger was his 13th of the season and brought his RBI total to 47, most in the Carolina League. That would be all for Salem's offense, but the stable of relievers took care of the rest.

Miguel Gonzalez, making his first start since September 1, 2007, had a rocky ride in the first two innings, walking the first three batters of the game and giving up three runs on four hits in two frames. But once again, taking an early lead proved to be a curse for the Pelicans. In seven of ten meetings against the Red Sox, Myrtle Beach has plated the first run. All seven times this season, the Sox have emerged victorious in the end.

Cesar Cabral entered after a 30 minute rain delay halted the game after the second inning, and the lefthander dominated in his Carolina League debut, retiring all six Pelicans he faced, including four strikeouts. Zach Hammes entered in the fifth and surrendered just one hit and an unearned run, picking up his first Carolina League win in the process. With Salem on top 5-4, Kyle Fernandes pitched almost flawlessly through the final three pressure-packed innings, earning his team-leading sixth save of the season. Fernandes allowed just one soft single and struck out a pair to send the fans home happy.

Salem improved to 33-24 on the season, but remained five games behind the Winston-Salem Dash, who won in walk-off fashion over Kinston for the second straight game.

The Red Sox remain at home for a three-game series against the Lynchburg Hillcats, beginning on Monday night at 7:05. Salem seeks retribution after the Hillcats swept the Sox last week at City Stadium. With the season series even at five games apiece, Brock Huntzinger makes the start for the Red Sox against Lynchburg's Jordan Hotchkiss in the series opener.

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Carolina League Stories from June 6, 2010


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