Fourteen Hits Help Rodriguez Pick Up 13th Win
Published on August 27, 2007 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC--On a team with 61 wins, Derek Rodriguez has now accounted for 13. Over 6.1 innings, Rodriguez surrendered just one earned run off six hits to improve to 13-5 on the year as the Warthogs downed Salem 9-4 at Ernie Shore Field on Monday night. The Warthogs pounded out 14 hits, but Micah Schnurstein's two-run home run was the only one that was not a single. The Warthogs' win prevented a four-game sweep at the hands of the Avalanche.
Rodriguez got in an early hole thanks to an unearned run in the first inning. With two outs and runners at first and third, Ryan Reed grounded to shortstop. Robert Valido could not make the play, allowing Tim Torres to score the first run of the game.
The Warthogs responded in the third inning, picking up an unearned run off of Salem starter Chris Salamida. Robbie Hudson reached on a throwing error by the second baseman Torres to start the inning. Hudson then moved to second when Salamida balked, and then to third on a ground out to the right side by Matt Sharp. Hudson was driven in on the next at bat when Paulo Orlando laced an RBI single to centerfield.
Salem regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a leadoff home run from Mark Ori over the right field wall. However, the Warthogs would take their first lead in the bottom of the inning with two runs off of four singles. Stefan Gartrell started the rally with a one-out single. The Warthogs then pieced together three consecutive singles from the bottom third of the lineup, C.J. Lang, Hudson and Sharp, to take the lead.
The Warthogs added to their lead with two more runs in the fifth inning. After Valido started the inning with a single, Schnurstein launched his league-leading 24th home run over the left field wall off of Salamida.
Salem would make things interesting with two runs in the top of the eighth, plating two runs off of reliever John Lujan. Winston-Salem would answer, though, with four runs in the bottom of the inning. All of Winston-Salem's ninth inning runs came off of reliever Jeff Wigdahl, who entered the game with a 0.79 ERA. The ninth inning explosion raised Wigdahl's ERA to 2.08. Jon Link pitched the final frame, retiring all three Salem batters he faced in the ninth to preserve the Winston-Salem victory.
Rodriguez (13-5) picked up the win while trimming his ERA to 3.77. Salamida (7-8) took the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, on nine hits in 4.1 innings.
The Warthogs will continue their final home stand of the season by welcoming the Kinston Indians to Ernie Shore Field for a four-game series. The opener is set for Tuesday, August 28 with the first pitch scheduled for 7 PM. The series will conclude on Friday night with all games expected to start at 7 PM.
Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2007
- Rocks Roll to 6-3 Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys Blank Indians, 3-0 - Kinston Indians
- Spoone Strikes Out Ten in 3-0 Win - Frederick Keys
- Fourteen Hits Help Rodriguez Pick Up 13th Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Streak Stalls at Five - Salem RidgeYaks
- Pelicans Fall Twice to Nationals - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Wilmington Wins 10th Game In 11 Tries, Defeats Lynchburg, 6-2 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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