CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Red Sox collect 13 hits and five runs in series opener

Published on August 19, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Salem posted a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and fifth frames to erase a 2-0 deficit and earn a 5-3 victory over Lynchburg at Salem Memorial Ballpark Tuesday night. The Hillcats will attempt to even the series in the second game of a three-game set on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.

Lynchburg (20-30, 65-54) grabbed the early lead by scoring twice in the opening frame. Josh Harrison reached on a fielding error by Salem centerfielder Che-Hsuan Lin with one out in the top of the first. Following a single by Jordy Mercer, Jamie Romak ripped an RBI double that scored Harrison. Matt Hague followed with an RBI single to give the Cats a 2-0 advantage.

Cats starter Rudy Owens looked sharp early in the contest as he held the Red Sox scoreless through the first three frames, extending his streak of scoreless innings to 12 1/3.

But the Red Sox found a way to generate offense against Owens in the middle innings. Anthony Rizzo led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and advanced to second on Tim Federowicz' double. Rizzo scored on an RBI groundout by David Mailman and Jon Hee drove in Federowicz with an RBI single to even the score at 2-2.

Salem (23-26, 51-67) struck for two more runs off Owens an inning later. Aaron Reza singled to start the frame and Mike Jones followed with an RBI double that plated Reza. Brad Correll drove in Jones with an RBI single that gave the Red Sox a 4-2 edge. It was Correll's first RBI since joining the Red Sox Aug. 15.

Lynchburg cut Salem's lead in half with a run in the top of the sixth. Romak struck out with one out in the inning, but raced to first on a wild pitch from Salem starter Kyle Weiland. Federowicz made an errant throw to first that wound up in the right field corner and Romak took second on the error. Hague laced an RBI double to left field that scored Romak and made it a 4-3 game.

But Salem's bullpen shut down the Lynchburg offense in the late innings as Armando Zerpa and Derrick Loop combined to toss 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and limit the Hillcats to just one hit. Loop picked up his 15th save by working a perfect ninth inning.

The Red Sox tacked on an insurance run when Federowicz led off the eighth inning with a solo home run off Cats reliever Mike Colla.

Weiland (5-9) allowed six hits, three runs and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings and earned the win. Owens (1-1) was charged with his first loss in three starts in the Carolina League after allowing 10 hits and four earned runs in five innings pitched.

Lynchburg will take on Salem in game two of the three-game set at Salem Memorial Ballpark Wednesday night. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The Cats will send RHP Bryan Morris (3-6, 5.50 ERA) to the mound. Salem is expected to start RHP Dave McKae (2-5, 4.96 ERA).

Tune in to FM 105.5 KD Country, 96.9 FM Roanoke or online at www.kdcountry.com or www.lynchburg-hillcats.com for all the live action beginning at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.

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Carolina League Stories from August 19, 2009


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