CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Red Sox Rake Gardner, Prevail 7-2

Published on July 8, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Kinston, NC (July 8, 2010) - Salem finally found success against Kinston righthander Joe Gardner on Thursday night, knocking the Indians ace out of the ballgame in the third inning and garnering the second straight contest at Grainger Stadium, winning by a score of 7-2. Gardner had allowed just three hits in 12 scoreless innings against the Red Sox this year, accompanied by 17 strikeouts over his two dominant outings. But on Thursday, the hard-throwing sinker-baller struggled with his command and walked five in his two and two-thirds innings on the mound. He surrendered only three hits, but two of the knocks were for extra-bases, including a bases-loaded three-run double from Jorge Padron. Salem led 5-0 when Gardner was chased from the game.

Salem starter Mark Holliman picked up his second win in as many starts with another strong performance. Holliman and reliever Will Latimer combined to strike out 15 Indians in the game, while holding the Indians to zero hits in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position and stranding nine Indians on base. Holliman tossed five and two thirds innings and allowed two runs on six hits, striking out eight with just one walk. Latimer closed it out over the final three and a third innings, whiffing a season-high seven and only allowing two hits.

Leadoff hitter Mitch Dening got the Sox on track right off the bat, singling against Gardner to begin the game. Dening then took advantage of two passed balls and a productive ground-out to score without another hit in the frame, giving Salem a 1-0 edge.

In the third, Gardner walked four and hit another, but a pair of two-out clutch hits by the Sox plated all four runs to give Salem a 5-0 lead. A ground-rule double into the left field corner by Oscar Tejeda scored Dening to begin the scoring. After Will Middlebrooks walked to load the bases, Jorge Padron scorched a line-drive into the left-center field gap to clear the bases and bring home three.

Two innings later, the Sox added two more runs on five singles from Tejeda, Middlebrooks, Tim Federowicz, Drew Hedman, and Jon Hee. Five of Salem's eight hits in the ballgame came in the fifth inning, with Federowivz and Hee coming away with an RBI each.

After losing seven of the first nine games of the second half, the Red Sox have won five of the last six to creep within a game of the .500 mark in the second half at 7-8. On the full-season, the Sox (49-36) put themselves in a position to pick up their 50th win in the series finale in Kinston on Friday night.

The Red Sox and Indians close out the three-game series with a 7 PM start on Friday night at Grainger Stadium. Caleb Clay takes the ball for Salem opposite Austin Adams for Kinston. Following the finale in Kinston, the Red Sox will journey to Boston for the "Futures at Fenway" contest on Saturday. Salem will play Potomac at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon.

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Carolina League Stories from July 8, 2010


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