CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Drops Pair to Split Four-Game Series with Kinston

Published on May 7, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA- When Salem meets Kinston again, Matt McBride might be an Akron Aero, a Columbus Clipper, or perhaps even a Cleveland Indian. All these scenarios would be ok with the Salem Sox after McBride's superhuman effort on Thursday at Lewis-Gale Field. After going 4-4 with two doubles and three RBI in Kinston's 7-0 game one shutout, McBride pounded a two-out, two-strike curveball out of the park in the top of the last inning of game two, vaulting his team past the Red Sox 4-3 in the nightcap. The two-run homer came a half-inning after Salem's Ryan Kalish blasted his own two-run shot to somersault Salem over Kinston and lead 3-2 heading to the final frame. Despite McBride's mastery, Salem seemed destined to prevail when they loaded the bases with nobody out off Dallas Cawiezell in the bottom of the seventh. But Cawiezell escaped the self-created jam and the Indians had themselves a series split and a share of the Southern Division lead.

In seven games against Salem this season, Matt McBride has 16 hits in 29 at bats, an astonishing .551 average to go along with five doubles, three homers, and 15 RBI. The Carolina League's RBI leader finished the doubleheader with six to bring his season total to 35. The clutch, game-changing long ball also served as the pivotal hit to extend his hitting streak to 21 games. Suffice to say, Salem pitchers are not opposed to McBride's promotion.

In game one, McBride combined with Cord Phelps and Lonnie Chisenhall for 10 of Kinston's 14 hits in their 7-0 blanking behind starting pitcher Eric Berger. Berger yielded just two hits in six scoreless frames, while Matt Meyer tossed a solid seventh to finish the job. The Red Sox, in the opener, were limited to just two singles and four walks and never put a runner past second base.

The second contest saw both teams score in the first inning, with Kinston owning a 2-1 lead after one. Both starters, Salem's Kyle Weiland and Kinston's Russell Young, settled down after the initial frame, with Weiland working four innings and Young finishing the fifth. With the score still 2-1 Indians in the last of the sixth, Jon Hee led off with a double that clanged off Salem's Mini-Monster left field wall. Kalish proceeded to crush his fourth homer of the year, a two-run shot that appeared to line up the Sox for victory. Kyle Fernandes returned to the mound after two shutout innings, retired the first two batters he faced before Chisenhall connected on a two-strike pitch over the head of Hee at second base for a single. Red Sox closer Derrick Loop replaced Fernandes, and Loop, the Carolina League's ERA leader entering the night, worked the count to 1-2 on McBride before the Sox-killer struck again. Trailing 4-3, the outlook still appeared bright when Salem used a walk, a bloop single, and a bunt single to load the bases in the bottom of the last. With the infield in, Hee popped to shallow center for the first out. Kalish stepped in, swung at the first pitch, and skied one into the third baseman Chisenhall's glove in foul territory. With the infield back and the runners in motion, Jason Place took a 3-2 fastball at the knees for strike three, and the game came to a close.

The Sox kick off their season series with the first-place Lynchburg Hillcats-who swept a doubleheader from Myrtle Beach on Thursday-at Lewis-Gale Field on Friday night at 7:05.

Check out the Salem RidgeYaks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central