Sox-Nats Split Doubleheader
July 21, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
The Sox picked up their third come-from-behind victory in their last four games, erasing a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in eight innings in Wednesday's doubleheader opener against the Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium. The host squad bounced back to swipe the nightcap 4-1, as Danny Rosenbaum picked up the win in his Carolina League debut. Salem dropped two of three in the series in Potomac, but won six of ten at Pfitzner Stadium on the season.
Salem faced major league rehabber Jordan Zimmermann in the opener and as stymied during Zimmermann's four frames on the mound. The Sox managed just two singles against Zimmermann, who threw 34 of his 47 pitches for strikes, striking out four. The Nats took a 1-0 lead thanks to Michael Burgess' second inning solo homer and plated another run on a wild pitch in the fourth, but Salem finally broke through against reliever AJ Morris in the top of the sixth. Luis Segovia began the rally with a one-out single and the Sox had the tying runners in scoring position when Peter Hissey doubled for the 20th time this season. An Oscar Tejeda ground out put Salem on the board, bringing home Segovia to make it 2-1. With two outs, Will Middlebrooks singled to score Hissey and even the ballgame at two apiece.
The Nats threatened with two on and two outs in the seventh, but Pat Ryan popped out the red-hot Tyler Moore to send the game to extras. Ryan earned his first Carolina League victory by retiring all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. The Sox were able to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth against Nationals reliever Clayton Dill. Drew Hedman singled to start the inning, advanced to second on Segovia's sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Hissey's sac fly for the go-ahead tally.
In the second game, Moore provided the early fireworks again, blasting a two-run homer off Caleb Clay in the first inning. Moore finished the series with an absurd .727 average, with eight hits in 11 at-bats in the three games. The Nationals added one more in the second and another in the fifth, while Salem's lone run in the nightcap came in the fourth on a Tejeda RBI single.
In the top of the seventh, Dan Butler doubled to open the frame, but a possible rally was quelled when an apparent good bounce was taken away from the Sox. With Butler at second, Hassan hit a chopper down the third-base line. Although the ball appeared to deflect directly off the third base bag down the left-field line, home plate umpire Gus Curtis signaled for a foul ball. Instead of Butler scoring, Hassan reaching, and the tying run coming to the plate, Butler remained at second and the count was 0-2 to Hassan. Salem manager Kevin Boles vehemently argued his case and was ejected by Curtis, the third time in 2010 that Boles has been tossed. Hassan and Hedman both flew out, and Segovia struck out against Dan Leatherman, who picked up his 11th save for the Nationals.
Salem continues its week-long road trip with a four-game series at City Stadium in Lynchburg. The Red Sox and Hillcats kick off their series on Thursday night at 7:05, with Stolmy Pimentel making the start opposite Chase Ware.
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Carolina League Stories from July 21, 2010
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