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 Salem Red Sox

Salem Red Sox Game Notes 4.20.14

April 20, 2014 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


The Salem Sox strive for a fourth straight win in Sunday's early evening tilt against Winston-Salem... First pitch at 5 PM...

Streaking Again: After winning five straight to start the season and enduring a six-game losing streak in the first 13 games, the Red Sox have rebounded to win their last three games and are looking for a fourth straight win heading in to Sunday evening in Winston-Salem. Salem's superb pitching has permitted only four runs in the past three games, in which the Sox have outscored their foes 20-4. Saturday's 2-0 shutout victory was the third shutout win of the season for the Sox. No other Carolina League team has registered more than two shutouts so far this season.

Always on Base: With another double on Saturday night, outfielder Kevin Heller, who's been in the lineup for 13 of the team's 16 games, is the only member of the club who's reached base in every game he's played. Consequently, Heller is hitting .366 (15-for-41), third-best in the league, and his on-base percentage is .480, #2 in the circuit. His ability to get on base has nothing to do with cheap singles; in six of his last seven games, Heller has recorded an extra-base hit. Consequently, his .634 slugging percentage is second in the league, trailing only Myrtle Beach's Joey Gallo.

Feeling Great Again: Second-baseman Reed Gragnani had his hot start to 2014 interrupted by a leg injury when a Pelican baserunner spiked him trying to steal second last weekend at LewisGale Field. After sitting out for six days, Gragnani returned to the lineup and immediately picked up right where he left off, delivering four hits and five RBI in his first two games back, both wins. Even after an 0-for-4 on Saturday, Gragnani has hit .364 (12-for-33) in eight games played this season, with nine RBI, tied for the team lead in runs driven in.

Everyday Energy: Through 16 games, the Red Sox have two players who have been in the lineup every time: Matty Johnson and Ryan Dent. Each has scored nine runs and driven in nine runs on the year, and both players have stolen four bases. Johnson and Dent are two of the 11 players in the Carolina League who have competed in every game thus far in 2014.

Organizational Success: With a 37-25 combined record, Boston's minor league affiliates in Pawtucket, Portland, Salem, and Greenville have the fourth best mark in overall organizational standings heading into Sunday, trailing only the Mets, Reds, and Rangers.

Monitoring Mookie Madness: Not even Mother Nature could halt Mookie Betts' unbelievable streak of reaching base! The second-baseman, now with the Portland Sea Dogs, has reached base in 13 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 48 consecutive games dating back to last August. In these 48 games between Salem and Portland, Betts is hitting .428 (77-for-180). In 11 games with the Sea Dogs, Betts is hitting .453 (24-for-53). . The Sea Dogs were rained out on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but went 6-for-13 in his last three games on Friday and Saturday.


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Carolina League Stories from April 20, 2014


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