Blue Rocks Steal Finale from Sox 5-4
August 8, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA (August 8, 2010) - With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Red Sox held a 4-2 lead, the bases were empty, and the Blue Rocks were four outs from defeat. But Wilmington rallied for the tying runs in the eighth and then Rey Navarro's solo homer with two down in the ninth vaulted the Rocks past the Sox 5-4 in the finale of the four-game series at Lewis-Gale Field, salvaging a series split for Wilmington. For the second consecutive four-game series, the Salem Sox "suffered" a two-two split after winning the first two games.
Aaron Crow, the 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft, tossed eight innings and picked up his first Carolina League victory over being demoted from Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Crow allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits, but retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced after giving up a three-run homer to Drew Hedman in the fourth inning. Crow struck out eight and did not walk anybody.
Hedman's three-run blast in the fourth inning gave Salem a 4-1 lead and Crow appeared to be on the ropes, yet the righthander out of Missouri kept the Blue Rocks in the game and allowed his mates to rally. Wilmington scraped one more off Salem starter Brock Huntzinger in the sixth inning to make it 4-2. Then, with two outs in the eighth, Patrick Norris doubled and scored on Christian Colon's single. Suddenly, the Rocks were within a run, and they tied it up on Wil Myers' double into the right-center field gap.
In the ninth, Seth Garrison retired the first two Wilmington batters on a grounder and a strikeout, but Navarro crushed his fourth homer of the year to give the Rocks their first lead since the third inning. Garrison gave up the deciding run and suffered the loss, falling to 1-1 on the year. Crow picked up the victory, which was preserved by Brendan Lafferty, who earned his first save of the season.
Ronald Bermudez went 2-4 in his Carolina League debut with two singles. He also made five catches in center-field for the Red Sox.
Hedman's home run was his third of the year, a towering no-doubter beyond the right-field fence, yet the Sox went just 1-5 with runners in scoring position in the series finale.
Salem's eight-game homestand continues on Monday evening, with the Kinston Indians coming to town for a four-game set. Michael Lee gets the ball for the Sox in the opener opposite K-Triber righthander T.J. House, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.
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Carolina League Stories from August 8, 2010
- Pelicans' Rally Falls Short in Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Potomac Caps Spectacular Trip with Win - Potomac Nationals
- As the Crow Flies, Rocks Rally to Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Blue Rocks Steal Finale from Sox 5-4 - Salem Red Sox
- Comeback Falls Short as Keys Earn Split - Winston-Salem Dash
- Kinston Falls to Lynchburg 8-3 - Kinston Indians
- Cats Complete Grand Time in Kinston - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Bernardo Belts Frederick to 8-6 Win - Frederick Keys
- Richard Promoted to AA Birmingham - Winston-Salem Dash
- K-Tribe Notes Notes - Kinston Indians
- Pelicans And P-Nats Split Twinbill - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats Split Doubleheader in Myrtle - Potomac Nationals
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