Salem Outlasts Lynchburg In 15-Inning Marathon
Published on July 18, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Kris Negron hit a two-run double that led to a four-run frame in the top of the 15th and gave Salem an 8-4 victory over Lynchburg in 15 innings at City Stadium Friday night. The Hillcats will attempt to even the three-game series on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
The Cats grabbed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the second. Kent Sakamoto ripped a one-out double off Salem starter Eammon Portice. After Portice retired Jared Keel, Eddie Prasch drove in Sakamoto with an RBI double to give Lynchburg a 1-0 advantage.
The Red Sox took the lead with two runs in the third. Negron drew a one-out walk from Lynchburg starter Jeff Locke and advanced to second when Locke walked Daniel Nava with two outs in the frame. Mike Jones knocked in Negron with an RBI single and Yamaico Navarro followed with an RBI double that put Salem in front 2-1.
Lynchburg evened the score with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Eric Fryer drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a one-out single by Jose De Los Santos. Fryer scored from third when Portice delivered a wild pitch with two outs to make it a 2-2 contest.
The Cats reclaimed the lead by scoring twice in the sixth. Matt Hague doubled off Salem reliever Armando Zerpa to start the inning. Zerpa proceeded to load the bases by issuing consecutive walks to Sakamoto and Keel. Eddie Prasch was retired on a fly out to Red Sox centerfielder Che-Hsuan Lin, which resulted in Hague being tagged out in a rundown between third and home.
Hague stayed in the rundown long enough for Sakamoto and Keel to advance into scoring position and Sakamoto scored when Zerpa uncorked a wild pitch. Eric Fryer's RBI single plated Keel and Lynchburg took a 4-2 edge.
Lynchburg was one out away from winning the game after Harvey Garcia retired the first two Salem batters in the top of the ninth. But Lin singled to keep the inning alive for Nava, who belted a two-run home run over the wall in left-center field to tie the game at 4-4.
The game remained tied until the top of the 15th. Hillcats reliever Paul Mildren allowed consecutive singles to Luis Exposito and David Mailman to begin the inning. After the runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Segovia, Negron connected for the game-winning two-run double. Salem tacked on two more runs before Mildren worked out of the inning.
Kyle Fernandes (3-0) set the Cats down in order in the bottom of the 15th to complete two innings of scoreless relief. He earned the win for Salem while Mildren (3-6) took the loss for Lynchburg.
The two teams combined to accumulate 12 runs, 27 hits and seven errors in the game, which took four hours and forty-three minutes to complete. There was also an eight-minute rain delay following the bottom of the seventh.
Lynchburg will take on Salem on Saturday night at City Stadium. Game time is set for 6:05 p.m.
Tune in to FM 105.5, 96.9 FM Roanoke or online at www.kdcountry.com or www.lynchburg-hillcats.com for all the live action beginning at 5:40 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from July 18, 2009
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- Myrtle Beach unable to capitalize on late-inning ralies - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Wilmington Arms Lead the Way as Blue Crew Takes Two From Keys - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Potomac Pitching Puts "K" in K-Tribe - Potomac Nationals
- Garrison limits Cats to one run in six innings en route to sixth win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Frederick Fades Back To .500 Suffering Doubleheader Sweep - Frederick Keys
- Potomac Wins Pitchers' Duel 2-1 - Kinston Indians
- Garrison Delivers Another Strong Performance as Sox Beat Cats 4-2 - Salem Red Sox
- Hillcats Game Notes for July 18 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Blue Rocks Game Notes for July 18 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- P-Nats Game Notes for July 18 - Potomac Nationals
- Indians Game Notes for July 18 - Kinston Indians
- Dash Brief Game Notes for July 18 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Red Sox Game Notes for July 18 - Salem Red Sox
- Negron's Two-Run Double Highlights Four-Run 15th as Sox Outlast Cats - Salem Red Sox
- Salem Outlasts Lynchburg In 15-Inning Marathon - Lynchburg Hillcats
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