Salem Red Sox Game Notes
April 16, 2014 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
The Salem Sox are ready for a twin-bill at Carolina, looking to extend its winning streak of 12 straight road games... First pitch at 5:00...
Today, OF Aneury Tavarez was placed on the disabled list. Salem received RHP Elis Jimenez from extended spring training.
Ready for the Road: Perhaps a week-long excursion through North Carolina will cure Salem's sudden struggles. After all, the Sox are a perfect 4-0 on the road so far this season, one of four teams in the minors who are currently unbeaten away from home in 2014. Myrtle Beach, who just swept the Red Sox in four straight at LewisGale Field, is a perfect 7-0 on the road, while the Triple-A Durham Bulls, and the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders are also undefeated on the road entering Wednesday's action. In the last two seasons, Salem has gone 13-7 at Carolina and 26-14 against the Mudcats overall. The Sox begin this journey having dropped five of their last six games. Salem and Carolina are tied for second in the Carolina League Southern Division, one game behind first place Myrtle Beach. Following Tuesday's rainout, Salem and Carolina will play two on Wednesday.
Eight Straight: No Sox hitter has had a hotter start to the season than outfielder Kevin Heller, who has reached base safely in each of the eight games he's played. While he's batting .440 (11-for-25) overall, the Brooklyn, NY-native has registered four hits and three walks in his last two games. His on-base percentage has climbed to a league best .563, and his .680 slugging percentage trails only Myrtle Beach's Joey Gallo, who's hit five home runs in his last five games for the surging Pelicans. Heller owns five extra-base hits on the season, tied with Mario Martinez and Jonathan Roof for the team lead. Heller's tied with Ryan Dent for the team lead in total bases with 17.
Bitten By the Bug: Numerous Red Sox had super starts derailed by some minor nagging injuries. Outfielder Aneury Tavarez finished a triple shy of the cycle in Salem's home opener last Tuesday, but tweaked a hamstring late in the game that kept him out of the lineup for the rest of the homestand. Infielder Reed Gragnani, who hit .421 with a .500 OBP in five games, took a cleat into the knee while covering second base on a steal attempt on Friday night, knocking him from the lineup the rest of the weekend. In addition, William Cuevas, scheduled to start on Monday, was scratched with some arm soreness, though he expects to be on the mound for his next turn in the rotation. Salem has also been without Jose Vinicio since the first road trip; the Opening Day shortstop injured his shoulder diving headfirst into first base on Saturday, April 5.
From Salem to Stardom: While Salem's 16-game winning streak ended last Wednesday, one streak we're still watching is continuing to unfold in Double-A, where second-baseman Mookie Betts has reached base in 10 straight games to begin the 2014 season. Considering that Betts reached safely in the final 35 games of 2013, including the playoffs, he has now recorded at least a hit or a walk in 45 consecutive games dating back to last August. In these 45 games between Salem and Portland, Betts is hitting .425 (71-for-167). In 10 games with the Sea Dogs, Betts is hitting .450 (18-for-40) with five walks and only three strikeouts. In addition to Betts, former Salem catcher Blake Swihart has enjoyed a fine start to his time in Double-A. In eight games, Swihart is batting .323 (10-for-31) with two doubles, a triple, and five RBI for the 7-4 Sea Dogs.
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Carolina League Stories from April 16, 2014
- P-Nats Take Both in Twinbill - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- P-Nats Sweep Wednesday Doubleheader with Pelicans - Potomac Nationals
- Blue Rocks, Hillcats Split First Doubleheader Of 2014 Season - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Mudcats Brush Away Sox in Twinbill - Carolina Mudcats
- Lynchburg Splits Doubleheader with Wilmington - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Mudcats Take Two Close Calls from Red Sox - Salem Red Sox
- Keys Sweep Doubleheader, Earn First Series Win - Frederick Keys
- Defense Dooms Dash in Doubleheader Sweep - Winston-Salem Dash
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem Red Sox
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Frederick Edges Winston in Twin Bill Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- Carlos Mendez Takes over as Hillcats Hitting Coach - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 16 vs. Frederick) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Frederick Keys Game Notes - Frederick Keys
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