CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Middlebrooks' First Inning Bomb the Only Scoring of the Game

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


Salem, VA - Michael Lee tossed a career-high seven shutout innings, and the Red Sox blanked the Hillcats 2-0 in front of 4,256 on Friday night at Lewis-Gale Field. Salem scored all the runs it needed in the first inning when Will Middlebrooks blasted a first-pitch offering from Jordan Hotchkiss over the left-field wall to take the early lead. Lee and two relievers proceeded to stymie the Lynchburg lineup the rest of the way, as not a single Hillcat reached third base in the entire game.

With two outs in the last of the first, Oscar Tejeda rocketed a double to left-center to provide the Red Sox with their first baserunner. When Middlebrooks bopped his tenth homer of the season for his 60th and 61st RBI of the year, Salem was on the board first for the first time in its last seven games. Despite only scoring the first run in two of their last 14 games, the Red Sox are 9-5 in that stretch.

In July, Middlebrooks has hit .333 with six homers, seven doubles, and 27 RBI.

Both teams managed six hits and neither team made an error in a well-played ballgame that was dominated by pitching through the final eight innings. Lance McClain pitched around a leadoff double to throw a scoreless eighth, and Kyle Fernandes closed it out with a perfect ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

Lee improved to 8-4, moving into a tie for third-place in victories in the Carolina League. The righthander struck out five and did not walk anyone in his most dominant performance of the season. He never faced more than four batters in any of his seven innings and retired the final eight he faced after Kevin Coddington singled with one out in the fifth.

Hillcats starter Jordan Hotchkiss suffered the loss, falling to 7-4. Hotchkiss lasted six and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits, with six strikeouts and one walk. In relief, Andrew Bowman was perfect in his inning and a third on the hill.

Salem will strive for the sweep of Lynchburg in the conclusion of the three-game set on Saturday night at 6:05. The matchup doubles as the final meeting of the 2010 regular season between the Sox and the Hillcats. Friday's Salem win gives the season series to the Sox, as the Red Sox improved to 11-8 on the year against the Cats. Caleb Clay will get the ball for Salem opposite James Avery for Lynchburg in the series finale.

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