CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Sox Keep Title Hopes Alive With 3-2 Walkoff Win

Published on June 18, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA - On the brink of elimination, Mitch Dening led the Salem Red Sox with a season-high four hits, saving his best for last. The Australian outfielder delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning, scoring Jon Hee from second base to propel Salem to a 3-2 victory over Kinston on Friday night in front of 4,682 at Lewis-Gale Field. The victory keeps the Sox mathematically alive in the first-half title chase, although the best Salem can now hope for is a tie atop the division with Winston-Salem. With two games remaining, the Red Sox are two back of the first-place Dash.

With two outs and the bases empty in the 11th, a 12th frame appeared imminent. But Hee, who finished 2-3 with two walks, kept the inning alive with a single to center. Up next, Ryan Dent also slapped a single to move Hee into scoring position. Facing Chris Jones, Dening then drilled a sinking liner to center for the game-winning hit.

The dramatic triumph made a winner out of Blake Maxwell, who tossed two scoreless out of the pen for the Red Sox. Maxwell improved to 3-1, while Jones suffered his first setback of the season, surrendering just his second earned run of the season, falling to 1-1.

A pitcher's duel throughout, Salem utilized five superb innings from Fabian Williamson to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Williamson walked four, but only allowed one hit in his five frames. Williamson's ERA dipped down to 3.72 in what will likely be his final outing before the All-Star Break.

In the third inning, Salem soared to a 2-0 lead thanks to Will Middlebrooks' two-out triple to deep center. The three-bagger scored Dening and Peter Hissey and broke the scoreless draw through the first two.

In the sixth, however, the Indians finally broke through, loading the bases with nobody out against reliever Zach Hammes. With the bags packed, Doug Pickens grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice to drive in a run and put the tying run at third in a 2-1 game. With Chris Kersten batting, Pickens took off for second, and when Ryan Lavarnway fired to attempt to nab the runner, Kyle Bellows broke for home on a double steal. But Tejeda tossed a strike back to the plate and Bellows was tagged out on a brilliant 2-4-2 caught stealing for Salem to preserve the lead.

While Salem's defense rose to the occasion in the sixth, the Kinston offense continued to battle, and the Tribe utilized an RBI single from Alex Castillo in the eighth inning to tie it up against Cesar Cabral. It was the only run allowed by Cabral in two and a third solid frames, in which he struck out three.

The Red Sox are in a must-win spot as they enter Saturday action against the Indians, the penultimate game of the first half. Caleb Clay will make the start against Marty Popham, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 at Lewis-Gale Field.

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Carolina League Stories from June 18, 2010


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