Salem Downs Potomac 5-2 in Opener

April 29, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release

Salem, VA - Derrik Gibson's two-run double in the last of the fourth gave Salem its first lead, and the Red Sox pitching staff held the Nationals hitless with runners in scoring position to propel the Sox to a 5-2 victory in the opening game of a 10-game homestand at Lewis-Gale Field. With the triumph, the Red Sox are now in first place by two and a half games in the Carolina League Southern Division with a 15-5 mark, the top record in the league.

Pete Ruiz picked up his first victory of the season by recovering from some early turbulence and tossing five and a third strong innings. He surrendered a one-out triple in the third to Jeff Kobernus, who scored on a ground-out from Destin Hood, but Ruiz did now allow another earned run throughout his outing. He yielded six hits and two total runs, while striking out six to set a new season-high in Ks.

In relief, Jeremiah Bayer was masterful, tossing three and two-thirds of one-hit, scoreless ball to pick up his first save of the season. Bayer shrunk his season ERA to 0.54; he's allowed just one run in 16 and two-thirds innings.

Offensively, every member of the lineup contributed for Salem. Eight of the nine batters had a hit, while Dan Butler went 0-3 but walked and scored one of the five Red Sox runs. Gibson's double in the fourth broke the 1-1 tie, and Jeremy Hazelbaker, who went 2-4 at the top of the order, delivered a two-out single to bring in Gibson and make it 4-1.

The Nats cut the lead to 4-2 with an unearned run in the fifth, but Salem retaliated in the sixth as Vladimir Frias launched a solo homer to right-field off Potomac starter Marcos Frias, knocking the Nats hurler out of the game. Marcos Frias got tagged with the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five and two-thirds innings, falling to 1-2 on the season.

The Red Sox look to keep it rolling on Saturday night with Ryan Pressly on the mound for Salem opposite Paul Demny for Potomac. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05, and it should be a memorable night at LewisGale Field for fans of the "Dukes of Hazard." The General Lee and Cooter will be at the ballpark on Saturday for game two of the weekend series.

Carolina League Stories from April 29, 2011

• Odorizzi Dominates Again As Rocks Blank Dash - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Odorizzi, Rocks Blank Dash 4-0 - Winston-Salem Dash
• Unlikely Heroes Lead Sox To Win - Potomac Nationals
• Salem Downs Potomac 5-2 in Opener - Salem Red Sox
• Bundy Deals; Ward and Townsend Go Deep in 5-1 Over Myrtle Beach - Frederick Keys
• Pelicans Fall to Frederick in Series Opener - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Kinston Blanks the Hillcats - Lynchburg Hillcats
• K-Tribe Blanks Lynchburg 2-0 - Kinston Indians
• Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
• Davis Placed on D.L., Shelton Returns - Winston-Salem Dash
• Keys Return Home May 2nd - Frederick Keys
• Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
• Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Salem Red Sox Stories

• Salem Sweeps Sunday Doubleheader, Wins First Series in 11 Weeks
• Three Late Runs Prove Too Little, Too Late in Friday Night Loss to Fayetteville
• Salem's Offense Sputters in Series-Deciding Doubleheader against Hickory
• Austin Ehrlicher's Dominating Performance Helps Boost Salem to Victory over Hickory
• Early Hickory Offense Propels Crawdads to Win over Red Sox