Avalanche solves Hardy

August 30, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release

Wilmington, DE-The Salem Avalanche, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Houston Astros, scored a run in the eighth inning to break a two-all tie at Frawley Stadium Thursday night and earn a 3-2 victory over homestanding Wilmington (42-23). Pat Osborn's RBI double in the eighth was the winning hit for Salem (36-30).

The game was even at two as Carolina League Pitcher of the Year Rowdy Hardy stepped on the rubber for the eighth. He allowed eight hits in the first seven innings, all Salem singles. With one out in the eighth, though, Billy Hart stroked a double to right-center field. After Mitch Einertson flied out, Pat Osborn split Jose Duarte and Brett Bigler for an RBI double and Salem's first lead since the fifth inning.

Salem responded to Wilmington's second-inning run against Sergio Perez with one of its own. Newly-crowned Carolina League MVP Mitch Einertson blooped a ball down the right-field stripe for a base hit that scored Eric King and tied the game. Salem grabbed the lead in the fourth on Justin Tellam's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out.

In the bottom of the fifth, though, Marc Maddox's own sacrifice fly plated Chris McConnell and evened the score at two.

Once Salem got ahead, though, the bullpen covered the lead. Chris Salamida threw a scoreless inning and two-thirds in the seventh into the eighth. Raymar Diaz followed him by striking out four batters to cement his second save of the season.

Offensively, Billy Hart registered three hits in four at-bats to raise his average to .308. He's now 10-for-14 in the three games of the series.

The Avs hold two games back of Kinston in the Southern Division with four to play by virtue of the Indians' win over Winston-Salem. The Avalanche finishes its 11-game road trip Thursday with a 7:05 game in Wilmington. Lefty Polin Trinidad faces Wilmington's Julio Pimentel.

Carolina League Stories from August 30, 2007

• Bascom, Keys Turn Aside Pelicans - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Rocks Still In Holding Pattern After 3-2 Loss To Salem - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Bascom And Deluge Of Hits Nets Frederick Victory - Frederick Keys
• Avalanche solves Hardy - Salem Red Sox
• K-Tribe throw another shutout - Kinston Indians
• Kinston Blanks Winston-Salem 5-0 - Winston-Salem Dash
• Ka'aihue & Schafer Earn Year-End All-Star Honors - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Hardy Voted Carolina League's Pitcher Of The Year - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Blue Rocks Will Turn Green For Good Cause - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Warthogs First Baseman Micah Schnurstein Named Carolina League All-Star - Winston-Salem Dash
• Breast Cancer Awareness Night This Saturday - Salem Red Sox
• Mike Sarbaugh Voted Manager of the Year as Four K-Tribe Players are Selected Year End All-Stars - Kinston Indians
• Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
• Martin Joins Pelicans Front Office - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Einertson named Carolina League MVP - CarL1
• Playoff-bound Avalanche Host Toys for Tots Night Sunday - Salem Red Sox

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