CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Surpasses Winston, Rises into First Place

Published on May 22, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (May 22, 2012) - Three Salem pitchers combined to hold Winston's top-ranked offense to just three hits and every member of the Sox lineup reached base at least once as the Red Sox rose into first place with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night at LewisGale Field. Miguel Celestino limited the Dash to one run on three hits over six innings, preceding Salem's perfect pen duo of Jeremiah Bayer and Mike Olmstead. The trio united to set down the final 13 Dash batters, preventing Winston from having a baserunner after the fifth inning.

Offensively, the Sox overcame an early 1-0 deficit, discovering the equalizer in the fourth before scoring a pair in the last of the seventh. Travis Shaw led off the last of the fourth with his 50th hit of the season, a bullet blasted down the right field line for his 15th double. A grounder from Xander Bogaerts moved Shaw to third, and Christian Vazquez singled him home to even the score at one.

Three innings later, a leadoff double sparked the game-winning rally, with Michael Almanzar reaching second on his liner to left-center. A sacrifice bunt from Adalberto Ibarra moved Almanzar to third, and Felix Sanchez' slow chopper to short brought him home to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. Although the bases were empty with two outs, the Sox were not done, as Jackie Bradley, Jr. worked his third walk of the night to prolong the frame for Sean Coyle. Despite falling behind in the count 0-2, Coyle fouled off numerous two-strike tosses before smashing a deep liner off the fence in left. Bradley scored from first on Coyle's first Carolina League triple, lifting the Sox to a 3-1 advantage.

The cushion was more than enough for the Red Sox relievers, as Jeremiah Bayer, after striking out the side in the seventh, induced three consecutive ground outs in the eighth. Olmsted arrived for the ninth to set down the Dash in order, punching out the final two batters of the game to complete the victory.

Bogaerts and Vazquez each had two hits to lead the Sox, who outhit the Dash 8-3. The victory moved the Red Sox 24-17, a half-game ahead of the Dash, who fell to 24-18.

Salem and Winston will reunite on Wednesday at 11 AM for some brunch baseball with a pair of righthanded guys named Ryan on the mound. Ryan Pressly will take the ball for the Sox opposite Ryan Buch for the Dash, with first place on the line again.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Wednesday's 11 AM contest will be broadcast live on www.salemsox.com and will be heard on tape delay beginning at 7:03 on NewsTalk 960 AM and FM 107.3 WFIR in the Roanoke Valley.

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Carolina League Stories from May 22, 2012


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