CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Red Sox Game Notes

Published on May 23, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


The Salem Sox wrap up their homestand with a doubleheader against the Winston-Salem Dash on Thursday night.

First pitch at 5:05.

Tuesday Trauma: The Red Sox suffered arguably their roughest loss of the season on Tuesday, dropping the opener to Winston-Salem 11-1. Salem also lost 11-1 on April 5 in Frederick in the first game of the season, but the Sox were held to a season-low three hits on Tuesday night. In fact, the Red Sox did not muster a single hit after the fourth inning. On the other hand, while the Sox were held to just one run, they did score for the 61st consecutive game, the longest active streak in the league. Salem's the only club in the Carolina League that has not been shut out this season, and you have to go back to August 12, 2012 in Wilmington to find the last time that the Sox have been blanked. The Red Sox are 1-0 in shutouts this year, while the Dash are 5-1.

The Blair Pitch Project: Catcher Carson Blair only played in one of the seven games of Salem's recent week-long road trip, going 1-for-3. During the current homestand, however, the Sox have ridden Blair's hot bat. He's started every game, twice as the catcher and twice as the DH, and he's reached base at a ridiculous rate. In his last four games, Blair has gone 7-for-12 with four walks, reaching base an amazing 11 times in 16 plate appearances. This four-game stretch has raised his batting average from .214 to .325, which would be tied for second in the league if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. In addition, his .460 OBP for the year would be second in the league if he qualified.

Home Streak Snapped: While Garin Cecchini went hitless on Tuesday night to snap his stretch of 12 straight home games with a knock, his one walk perpetuated his reaching base rhythm. Cecchini has reached safely in 26 of his last 27 games, a stretch in which he's hitting .404 with a .525 OBP. Since April 18, Cecchini's on-base percentage is the best in all of minor league baseball, with only two other players joining him with OBPs over .500. For the full season, Cecchini's .372 clip is 47 points higher than the second-best average in the league that qualifies on the leaderboard. His .642 slugging percentage is 100 points better than the second best, and his .472 OBP is 50 points better than the next best.

Can Coyle Connect?: Sean Coyle is still second in the league in home runs even though he has not gone yard since May 4 in Winston-Salem. He took Chris Beck deep twice in the first two innings that day, while the righthander has only been taken out of the park two times in his other 43 innings on the hill this season. Beck is searching for his first win since April 18, having lost his last five decisions.

Let's Play Two: Tonight will be Salem's second doubleheader of the season, but the Red Sox are still looking for their first win in a seven-inning game. The Sox were swept in a twin-bill by the Carolina Mudcats two weeks ago in their only double-dip of the season. Meanwhile, the Dash are also ready for their second doubleheader, but Winston is looking to remain unbeaten in twin-bills after grabbing a pair of wins from Wilmington on April 20. Following tonight's doubleheader, the Red Sox hit the road for their next seven games.

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Carolina League Stories from May 23, 2013


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