CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Salem Sox vs. Mudcats - Game Notes - August 20, 2013

Published on August 20, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Peaking Sox: With 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Salem Sox could move to three games above .500 for the first time all year with a victory tonight. Salem was two above .500 at 12-10 on April 29, the only time the Sox were multiple games above water until Salem's 9-2 triumph on Monday improved the squad to 64-62. In the Southern Division second half chase, the Red Sox are a game and a half behind Myrtle Beach and a game and a half ahead of Carolina. To make the playoffs, Salem solely needs to finish ahead of Carolina. If the Sox can also surpass the Pelicans, then Salem would get to host a game in the divisional round. Salem has not been to the playoffs since 2009, when the Sox advanced to the Mills Cup Finals but lost to the Hillcats. Salem's last Mills Cup Title was in 2001.

Mound Masters: Since Salem's walk-off win on July 30, the Red Sox have won 13 of their last 19 contests, rising to six games above .500 in the second half. In this stretch, the Sox have only hit .238 (152-for-640) and averaged just 4.4 runs per game (83 R/19 gm), but the pitching as carried the torch. Salem has a team ERA of 2.85 (55 ER/173.2 IP) in the last 19 games. Mike Augliera makes his fourth August start tonight; thus far this month, he's compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.33 ERA. Augliera will be looking to perpetuate his dominance against the Mudcats this season; in four starts vs. Carolina, he has gone 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA, allowing just four earned runs over 26 innings, with 18 strikeouts and five walks.

Good, Better, Betts: Another game, and another sensational performance from 20-year-old second baseman Mookie Betts. Despite being the youngest member of the current Salem roster, Betts has bolstered the Red Sox push for the playoffs with hits in 16 of his last 17 games, in which he's raking at a .361 (22-for-61) clip with nine walks and 14 RBI. As a baserunner, Betts is 17-for-17 in stolen base attempts since being promoted from Greenville. He has not been caught since a July 6 game in the South Atlantic League. Between the two levels, he has 35 steals in 37 tries on the season. Betts carries a seven-game hitting streak into tonight's action, in which he's batting .321 (9-for-28). In 38 games with Salem, he has 16 walks along with 16 strikeouts.

Swihart Strong: It certainly doesn't look like Salem's 21-year-old catcher is wearing down as the season progresses. After a bit of a valley in July, Blake Swihart has gone 27-for-75 in his last 18 games since July 24, a .360 average that is second best in the league in this stretch. Currently, Swihart owns a six-game hitting streak, in which he's batting .308 (8-for-26). Impressively, Swihart has been Salem's catcher in 91 games this season, eight more than anyone else in the league and 25 more than he caught all of last year.

Boston's Bogey: Six days older than Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts has brought a even more ridiculous youthful brilliance to the Red Sox organization. One of the top Carolina League players in 2012, Bogaerts has been called up the big leagues and his poised to make his debut for Boston in San Francisco tonight. Bogaerts played 104 games for Salem last year, hitting .302 with 15 homers and 64 RBI. Bogaerts earned a promotion to Double-A Portland after his performance unbelievable August performance for the Sox last year. The Aruban shortstop went 14-for-26 (.538) in his final six games with Salem to force his way up the ladder. When Bogaerts makes his major league debut, he'll become the 22nd former Salem Red Sox player since 2009 to arrive in the Show.

Check out the Salem Red Sox Statistics

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



Carolina League Stories from August 20, 2013


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