CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Three-Run Jack in the Seventh Lifts the Rocks

Published on August 7, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA - On the first pitch after an unorthodox call-to-the-bullpen, Adam Frost crushed a 2-2 fastball over the left-field fence for a game-changing, two-out, three-run homer, surging the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 4-1 victory on Saturday night in front of 4,420 at Lewis-Gale Field. In fouling off the previous pitch, the ball deflected against the bare throwing hand of Salem catcher Tim Federowicz, who left the game with blood on his fingers. Back-up catcher Dan Butler was down the left-field line in the bullpen loosening up the reliever when manager Kevin Boles summoned him into the ballgame. Caleb Clay proceeded to serve up a fastball that never found Butler's awaiting mitt, or any mitt.

The three-run jack, Frost's fourth of the season, spoiled an otherwise masterful performance for Clay, who shut out the Blue Rocks over the first six innings, permitting just three baserunners through the first two-thirds of the ballgame. But Clay got tagged for four runs on three singles and the three-run homer in the seventh, providing plenty of offense for Wilmington on a day when a trio of pitchers held the Sox to only one.

Manauris Baez earned his first victory since April 17 by tossing six and two-thirds very strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Salem's lone tally came on a two-out bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fourth by Ryan Dent, but the Sox would squander the opportunity to plate a crooked number. Salem stranded the bases loaded again in the eighth and left nine on base, including six in scoring position, on the night.

Kevin Chapmen tossed a scoreless inning out of the Blue Rock pen, preceding Barry Bowden, who recorded the final four outs to pick up his 10th save on the season.

For the second straight time against the Blue Rocks, Clay was offered little run support, and he saw his record fall to 4-11 as a consequence. Salem managed just five hits, all singles, on Saturday night. When Clay last faced the Blue Rocks on June 24, the Sox also mustered a nearly identical meager output of five singles and no runs in a 2-0 shutout setback.

While Frost's swing was the offensive highlight for Wilmington, designated hitter Salvador Perez went 4-4 for the Rocks, singling on all four trips to the plate, scoring once, and driving in the tying run in the top of the seventh before Frost homered two batters later. No one on the Red Sox managed multiple hits, but Alex Hassan did go 1-4 to continue his hitting streak. Hassan now has a base hit in ten consecutive games, a stretch in which he has hit .444 (16-36).

Though the Blue Rocks' victory shall deny Salem's quest for a sweep, the Sox can still earn a series triumph in the four-gamer at Lewis-Gale Field with a win in the finale on Sunday. The Sox and Rocks will lace ‘em up for a 4:05 matinee, with Brock Huntzinger opposing Aaron Crow on the mound.

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Carolina League Stories from August 7, 2010


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