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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Potomac Prevails 5-2 Behind Bronson

May 1, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA (May 1, 2011) - Salem's bid for a series sweep fell short as the offense produced just four hits in Potomac's 5-2 victory on Sunday at LewisGale Field. Nationals' starter Evan Bronson pitched five strong innings, and relievers Josh Smoker and Pat Lehman tossed two apiece to hand the Sox just their sixth setback of the season. With the road win, Potomac completed its marathon 17-game trip with a 7-10 record.

The Nats scored single runs off Salem's Chris Hernandez in each of the first two innings, taking advantage of a couple early walks from the Sox southpaw. Hernandez allowed two more runs in the fourth and one more in the top of the sixth before departing with two outs in the sixth. Hernandez left with Salem trailing 5-1, absorbing his first professional loss in the process. Hernandez surrendered five runs on seven hits in five and two-thirds and falls to 2-1 on the season.

Potomac's offense was led by back-up catcher Brian Peacock, who started on Sunday and went 2-4 with a two-RBI single from the eighth spot in the order. Stephen King also went 2-4 with a double for Potomac, who improved to 9-13 on the season.

Salem slipped to 16-6 as the Sox offense diverged from its typical clutch abilities. The Sox entered Sunday's game with a Carolina League best .315 average with runners in scoring position, but Salem went 0-11 in such situations in the finale vs. Potomac.

Reynaldo Rodriguez perpetuated his consecutive games on base streak with Salem's only extra-base knock of the afternoon, a leadoff double in the fourth. Rodriguez has reached base in 20 straight games for the Sox, a stretch in which he has hit .408.

Salem's bullpen retired all ten batters it faced on Sunday, as Kendal Volz struck out three in two and a third innings and Mitch Herold delivered a 1-2-3 ninth with two Ks.

The Sox greatest threat came in the last of the eighth as they scored once and brought the tying man to the plate with nobody out, but Lehman replaced Smoker with runners aboard and wiggled out of the jam. Lehman retired six straight Red Sox to end the game and earn his sixth save of the season.

Salem's 10-game homestand continues on Monday as the Kinston Indians arrive for a three-game series. The opening game features lefthander Drake Britton starting for the Sox opposite righthander Clayton Cook for the K-Tribe, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

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