May 22, 2013
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Salem Splits Two Thursday Decisions at Potomac

August 3, 2012 - Carolina League (CarL) Salem Red Sox

Woodbridge, VA - The Salem Sox grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat in the resumption of Wednesday's suspended game, using Xander Bogaerts' two-run double in the top of the tenth to escape with a 5-3 triumph in 10 innings. Salem's quest for a three-game sweep fell short in the series finale, however, with the Nationals clobbering the Sox 8-0 behind Nathan Karns and three relievers.

After late-night rain wiped out the middle-game of the series on Wednesday, the two squads resumed play in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday, shortly after five o'clock with the score tied at three. Potomac used two walks and a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with one out, and the Nationals needed only a base hit or sac fly to quickly win the game. But when Adrian Sanchez grounded to third, the runner Jason Martinson hesitated, and he was tagged out by Michael Almanzar, who then threw to first to complete a game-saving 5-3 double play. With Bogaerts' gap-slicing double in the top of the tenth, the Red Sox surged in front and made a winner of Will Latimer, who tossed two scoreless innings in his first appearance with Salem in 2012.

In the regularly scheduled game, Salem collected a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single in the first inning, but Felix Sanchez was thrown out at home plate and the Red Sox failed to score. Karns found a groove and pitched around baserunners in four of his five innings to earn his eighth victory. Meanwhile, the Nationals jumped in front 3-0 in the first inning, added one in the fourth, and blew it open with Kevin Keyes' three-run shot in the eighth that highlighted a four-run frame, giving Potomac an 8-0 advantage.

J.P. Ramirez went 3-for-4, leading Potomac's 13-hit barrage, with every National recording at least one knock. Karns improved to 8-2, while Celestino dropped to 7-7, surrendering four runs on eight hits in six innings. Bogaerts finished with two hits in the nightcap, giving him three hits on Thursday when you add his game-changing double from earlier in the night.

While the Sox could not complete the sweep, Salem still returns to LewisGale Field on Friday having taken two out of three over Potomac. The Sox kick off a three-game series against Wilmington on Friday evening at 7:05, with Yeiper Castillo getting the start against Leondy Perez.

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Carolina League Stories from August 3, 2012


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