Matusz Masterful in 6-0 Blanking of Red Sox
May 31, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Salem, VA (May 31, 2009) - The Red Sox' struggling offense was silenced on Sunday as Frederick took the series finale 6-0 at Lewis-Gale Field. Brian Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft, shut down Salem during seven dominant innings, while the Keys took advantage of shaky command by Salem's starter Jose Capellan to gain a quick lead they would not relinquish. After scoring one on a bases loaded walk in the first, the Keys broke it open with two home runs by Pedro Florimon in the second and fourth innings. Bobby Stevens also went yard off Capellan for Frederick during their three-run fourth.
For the fourth time in five outings, Matusz tossed seven innings, picking up his fourth victory of the season. The Red Sox only touched him for five hits, four singles and a double, which he scattered throughout the frames. The lefthander out of San Diego struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.37. Jake Stevens retired six of the seven batters he faced over the final two innings to complete the shutout.
Capellan struggled mightily, loading the bases in the first on a pair of infield singles and a walk with one out. He struck out Kraig Binick and nearly escaped the jam, but he issued another free pass to Caleb Joseph to force in the first Frederick run. In the second, a one-out walk to the number nine hitter, David Cash, led to a two-out, two-run homer for Florimon, making it 3-0. Though he pitched a 1-2-3 third, the Keys knocked him out of the ballgame in the fourth when Stevens knocked his third homer of the season, setting the stage for Florimon's second two-run bomb of the afternoon. In three and two-thirds, Capellan allowed eight hits and four walks, yielding all six Frederick runs.
Salem has baserunners in six of the nine innings, yet repeatedly came up empty. Salem was just 1-8 with runners in scoring position as they were shut out for the fifth time in 2009. Luis Exposito was the only Salem batter with multiple hits, going 2-3 to finish 6-11 in the three-game series. Kris Negron went 1-4 to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Red Sox also received another stellar effort from the bullpen, as Salem's stable of relievers combined to throw five and a third scoreless innings in defeat. Kyle Fernandes tossed two and a third, Jason Rice threw two, and Derrick Loop offered a smooth top of the ninth to keep the deficit at six. Unfortunately, the Red Sox offense remained quiet, as Salem ended the month of May at 23-27, a game and a half behind Winston-Salem in the Carolina League South.
The Red Sox look to bounce back on Monday as the Potomac Nationals come to town for a three-game series. Salem's Seth Garrison gets the call against the P-Nats in game one, tomorrow evening at 7:05.
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Carolina League Stories from May 31, 2009
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- Pelicans Take Second Straight Series - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Wilmington Offense Fizzles in Loss - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Shirek Shines as Dash Take Finale Over K-Tribe - Winston-Salem Dash
- Mandel Roughed Up as P-Nats Fall to Cats - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Slips by Kinston 4-3 - Kinston Indians
- Matusz Shuts Out Red Sox - Frederick Keys
- Matusz Masterful in 6-0 Blanking of Red Sox - Salem Red Sox
- OF Valdez Placed on DL - Potomac Nationals
- Nationals Game Notes for May 31 - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Game Notes for May 31 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Kinston Indians Game Notes for May 31 - Kinston Indians
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