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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Vitek Pounds Three More Hits, But Sox Fall 5-2

April 21, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA (April 21, 2011) - A new opponent proved to be Salem's kryptonite on Thursday evening as the P-Nats knocked off the Red Sox 5-2 in front of 3,245 at LewisGale Field to snap Salem's five-game winning streak. Kolbrin Vitek continued his scorching offensive stretch with three more hits, but the rest of Salem's lineup only managed four knocks against a trio of Nationals hurlers. Potomac southpaw Danny Rosenbaum tossed seven and a third strong innings, scattering six hits and walk walks to pick up the victory, handing Salem its first loss since last Friday night in Frederick.

The Nationals broke through on the scoreboard first when Steven Souza launched a laser line-drive homer to left-center field in the second inning. The two-run blast off Tom Ebert gave Potomac a 2-zip lead, and the advantage would not be relinquished.

Salem threatened in the last of the third, slicing the two-run deficit in half on Peter Hissey's RBI single with one out. Vitek's second hit of the game loaded the bases for Reynaldo Rodriguez, but the Red Sox cleanup hitter grounded into a 5-3 inning-ending double-play and Salem squandered the opportunity.

The missed chance was magnified an inning later when Potomac's Sandy Leon came up with the bases loaded and lifted a liner to deep center-field. Hissey sprinted backward but the ball narrowly cleared his outstretched glove, clearing the bases to transform a 2-1 nailbiter into a more comfortable 5-1 score. Leon was thrown out at third base trying to stretch the double into a triple, but the three runs had already scored and the damage won done.

The Red Sox picked up one more run on Dan Butler's RBI single in the last of the eighth, but were unable to get any closer against the Potomac bullpen. Adam Olbrychowski tossed two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run in the eighth, while Pat Lehman delivered a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his second save of the season for Potomac, preserving the victory for Rosenbaum.

In making a spot start necessitated by Sunday's doubleheader in Frederick, Tom Ebert pitched well, but Leon's one swing that produced three Nationals' runs hurt his final stat line. In four innings, Ebert allowed four earned runs (five total) on three hits and one walk. Jeremiah Bayer entered in relief and blanked Potomac for four innings, while Kendal Volz tossed a scoreless top of the ninth to complete Salem's pitching line for the night.

Vitek was the only member of the Red Sox to record multiple hits, although Reynaldo Rodriguez and Derrik Gibson each drew two walks. Rodriguez' nine-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-2, two walk evening.

Salem will seek to avenge the setback on Friday night as the four-game series with the Nationals continues at LewisGale Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with Chris Balcom-Miller set to oppose Trevor Holder. Balcom-Miller enters the evening with the top ERA in the Carolina League, having thrown 10 scoreless innings thus far in 2011 with just three hits allowed.

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Carolina League Stories from April 21, 2011


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