CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Pickens' Dinger Sends Indians Past Sox 5-2

Published on August 9, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (August 9, 2010)- For the third consecutive game, the Salem Red Sox pitching staff ceded a late-inning home run to break a tie, as Doug Pickens' three-run shot off of Michael Lee in the seventh pushed the Kinston Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Sox on Monday night in front of 4,196 fans at Lewis-Gale Field. Salem grounded into three double plays in the contest, including a game-ender in the ninth.

The Sox tied the game at two in the bottom of the sixth, but Lee was unable to get out of the seventh unscathed. After getting a quick first out, Lee gave up a single to Juan Diaz, who advanced to second when second baseman Oscar Tejeda was said to be off the bag when he received a flip from Ryan Dent on Nate Recknagel's grounder to short. Tejeda's error left runners on first and second with just one out and Pickens took advantage by sending a 1-2 pitch just over the left-center field wall to put the K-Tribe ahead 5-2, chasing Lee from the ballgame.

Aside from the rough seventh, Lee was solid for the Sox while working at a ferocious pace. For the second time in three days, the game was into the seventh inning before passing the 90-minute mark. Lee allowed seven hits, while striking out four and walking no one, but fell to 9-5 on the season.

Kinston got on the board first with single runs in the second and fourth. The Indians had eight hits on the night, but Pickens' homer was the only hit that went for extra bases.

After being shut out through the first five frames by lefthander T.J. House, the Sox finally got to the southpaw with a pair in the bottom of the sixth. Salem used clutch, two-out performances to get on the board as Dan Butler and Oscar Tejeda notched back-to-back knocks to knot the game at two. Butler's double scored Jon Hee, who had doubled with one out, and Tejeda laced a single to left to bring home Butler.

Salem notched eight hits on the night, four of which were two-baggers. Alex Hassan went 2-for-4 on the night, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, one shy of the team high for the 2010 season. The Sox outfielder has been on fire since the All-Star Break, posting a .362 average in 33 games, raising his average to a season-high .287. Peter Hissey also added his 24th multi-hit game of the year with a 2-for-4 performance.

Despite smacking eight base hits, the Sox only left three base runners, due to the three double plays turned by the Indians, one short of a season-high for a Salem opponent. Hissey was also caught stealing twice on the night.

After a four-game winning streak, the Red Sox have now lost three in a row to fall to 22-20 in the second half (64-48 overall). However, Salem still sits two games ahead of Myrtle Beach for the second half Southern Division playoff spot. The Indians sit three games back and will send Joe Gardner to the mound on Tuesday night against Salem's Mark Holliman. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

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Carolina League Stories from August 9, 2010


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