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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Dent's Heroics Cap Unbelievable 7-6 Comeback Victory in 11

September 5, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA (September 5, 2009) - After a turbulent season of ups and downs, perhaps Saturday night's improbable victory will gave Salem that magical edge they need as they forge ahead towards the postseason. Amidst a steady drizzle that fell throughout the final six innings, Ryan Dent's line drive to left center in the last of the 11th soared over the head of Alex Presley, bringing home Chih-Hsien Chiang to cap a sensational comeback and give Salem a 7-6 walk-off win over Lynchburg. Not only did the Red Sox erase a 6-0 deficit, but their win coupled with a Kinston loss dropped the Magic Number to one. Any Salem win or Kinston loss over the next two days will secure a date with Winston-Salem on Wednesday in the Carolina League playoffs.

Although Dent had just five hits in 31 at-bats through his first ten games with Salem, he went 4-4 with three RBI from the nine spot in the batting order to lead the Red Sox offense. When the Sox trailed 6-0, Dent singled to drive in the first run and get Salem on the board. With Salem down 6-5 in the ninth, Dent lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center-field that tied the game at six. All of that set the stage for the walk-off base hit in the 11th, a blast into the gap that ignited a raucous celebration from the Salem Sox as they poured out of the dugout to maul the man who came through again.

All three of Dent's RBIs brought home Chiang, who also tallied four hits for the Red Sox in Saturday's dramatic win. Chiang compiled two singles and two doubles, leading off innings with hits on three separate occasions. Che-Hsuan Lin and Anthony Rizzo each went 2-5 with an RBI apiece as Salem out-hit the Cats 14-13. The Sox scored three in the fifth before rallying for one in the eighth and two in the ninth to tie it and send it into extra innings.

The game could have ended much sooner had it not been for Salem's sloppiness in the third inning. Lynchburg scored five times in the top of the third on four hits and two costly errors, including a fly ball to center field that Lin dropped off the bat of Romak. Five different Hillcats registered single RBIs each as they added a run off Dave McKae in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. Salem's bullpen would hold the Hillcats scoreless the rest of the way.

Jose Capellan (two innings), Kyle Fernandes (four), and Jason Blackey (one) combined for seven shutout frames out of the pen to provide the foundation for Salem's comeback. Lynchburg threatened to add an insurance run in the top of the ninth against Fernandes with a man at third and one out, but the Sox southpaw escaped the threat. In the 11th, the Hillcats had runners at second and third with nobody out and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but Blackey induced a tailor-made double-play ball that Salem turned 6-4-3 to once again avert the situation unscathed. Blackey earned the victory in relief to improve to 2-0.

Lynchburg reliever Mike Colla set the Sox down in order in the bottom of the tenth, but was greeted by a Chiang double to start the 11th. After Zach Borowiak was unsuccessful in trying to move the runner over to third (he popped a bunt attempt to the pitcher), Danny Butler popped up to shallow right field on the first pitch he saw. With two outs and the 12th inning seemingly imminent, Dent delivered a humungous exclamation point to his already sparking evening, driving the game-winning hit to complete the memorable evening.

With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Red Sox head up Route 460 to take on the same Lynchburg team at City Stadium on Sunday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05, with Eammon Portice set to tangle with Jeff Locke.

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