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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Close, But Comfortable; Sox Edge Birds 3-2

May 7, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA - For the third straight night, the Salem Red Sox (20-7) were one run better than the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (17-12), besting their divisional foe 3-2 on Saturday evening at LewisGale Field. The two teams began the four-game series separated by just one game in the Carolina League Southern Division, but that gap has widened to four games as the Sox have managed three wins by total of three runs. Drake Britton allowed just one run on two hits in six dominant innings to pick up his first win of the season, and Tom Ebert yielded just one tally over the final three frames to earn his first save.

Salem's 20th win of 2011 was keyed by a three-run fourth inning against Pelican starter Barret Loux. The Myrtle Beach righty struck out seven and did not walk anybody over six frames, but suffered the loss due to Salem's rally in the fourth.

Kolbrin Vitek began the frame with a triple to the gap in right-center, and Reynaldo Rodriguez promptly slammed the next pitch for a line-drive single to left, scoring Vitek and breaking the scoreless draw through three and a half. Shannon Wilkerson bunted for a single that moved Rodriguez to second, and the pair of baserunners executed a double steal with David Mailman at the plate to advance to second and third. Mailman then slapped a single down the left-field line to bring home both runners, giving the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.

Myrtle Beach's offense was limited to a pair of solo home runs. Michael Olt led off the fifth with a dinger to left-center off Britton, while Chris McGuinness belted his first of the year to greet Ebert in the seventh. With two outs in the last of the seventh, Pelican catcher Vinny DiFazio launched a deep fly to left. The wind nearly pushed it out, but the ball deflected off the top of the wall, a foot or two shy away from clearing the fence and tying the game. With DiFazio at second, Jared Prince grounded out to end the inning, and Myrtle Beach never put a runner in scoring position the rest of the way.

Every single member of the Salem lineup reached base once, except Kolbrin Vitek who was aboard twice with a triple and a hit-by-pitch. The Red Sox out-hit Myrtle Beach 8-5, and Salem pitchers did not issue a single walk in the ballgame.

At 20-7, the Salem Sox are one win shy of matching their sensational start to the 2010 season, when they began 21-7 through 28 games.

Already assured of a series victory, the Red Sox will strive to sweep the Pelicans during a Mother's Day matinee at LewisGale Field. Miguel Gonzalez will make his second start for Salem, while Robbie Ross will toss for Myrtle Beach, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:05.

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