CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Salem Sox vs. Blue Rocks - Game Notes - June 21, 2013

June 21, 2013 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


A New Season Begins: Appropriately, the Salem Sox kick off their second half on the night of the summer solstice, and a new season brings a renewed opportunity. The Red Sox finished the first half 33-37, but like everyone else in the league, Salem is 0-0 as the new segment of the year starts on Friday night in Wilmington. For the first time since the Red Sox affiliation began in 2009, the squad regroups after a four-day All-Star Break. Previously, each All-Star Break has been Monday through Wednesday, with the action resuming on Thursday. But with the Carolina League All-Stars having to travel across the country, an extra day was provided to everyone. In the first half of the season, Salem played 70 games in 73 days. The second half of the schedule includes 70 games in 74 days.

Farewell, Garin Cecchini: Salem's dynamic third-baseman is deservedly in Double-A following an amazing first half of production at the Carolina League level. Just like Jackie Bradley Jr in 2012, Garin Cecchini led the Carolina League in hitting through 70 games, started in the All-Star Game, and earned a promotion to Portland before the Sox began their second half. In 63 games, Cecchini hit .350 (75-for-214) with an on-base percentage of .469, both tops in the circuit. Cecchini is expected to make his Sea Dogs debut tonight in Trenton.

The Key-ry to Salem's Second Half Success?: While Garin Cecchini was Salem's best hitter in the first half, the hottest hitter over the last couple weeks has undoubtedly been Keury De La Cruz. With his 24th multi-hit game this past Sunday, De La Cruz remained red hot and extended his hitting streak to 16 games, in which he is batting an incredible .458 (27-for-58)! No one else in the Carolina League has put together a streak akin to De La Cruz' current tear. Since June 3, De La Cruz owns the best average in the entire Advanced-A level and the fifth best clip in all of the minors. He has recorded nine extra-base hits and 19 RBI during his hitting streak, which includes his fourth homer of the season that he jacked in game one of a doubleheader last Friday night.

Fresh Starts All Around: Perhaps no member of the Red Sox is ready for a new beginning like Mickey Pena, who served as Salem's Opening Day starter in the first half. He made just four starts in the half as a result of a 50-game suspension, but he is eager to make an impact on the mound in the second half. Pena went 8-7 with a 2.95 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) for Greenville last year. He retook the field in a Salem jersey for the first time since April eight days ago.

85 Game Scoring Streak Ends: The 2013 nearly made it to the All-Star Break without being shutout, a quest that ended in game two of a twin-bill last Friday night. Without Garin Cecchini in the lineup, the Sox failed to score in the nightcap, suffering its first shutout since August 12, 2012, when the Sox fell 5-0 in Wilmington. It ended an 85-game streak of scoring at least one run in every game. In the first half, every team in the league was blanked at least once. Interestingly, Salem remains the only team in the league that has not been shutout twice this year. Every other squad has been blanked multiple times, with Wilmington having been shutout eight times.

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Carolina League Stories from June 21, 2013


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