CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Scuffling Sox Beaten 6-4 in 10 Innings

Published on August 20, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA - After four hitless at-bats, Keys third-baseman Miguel Abreu delivered an RBI single in the top of the tenth to give Frederick a 5-4 lead, and the visitors added another unearned tally to prevail 6-4 in Friday night action at Lewis-Gale Field. Salem overcame deficits of 3-1 and 4-3, but down by two in the last of the tenth, Dan Butler grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game after the Sox had put the tying runs aboard with one out. Salem was handed it's ninth loss it its last 11 games, dropping the Red Sox to 24-26 in the half and 66-54 on the season. Despite the rough stretch, the Sox remained a half-game ahead of the Pelicans and the Indians for the final playoff spot, as Myrtle Beach fell to Kinston 6-4. The three clubs are separated by just a half game in the second-half standings.

Both starters delivered quality performances for their clubs, as Brock Huntzinger scattered nine hits in six innings innings, allowing three runs with five strikeouts. But Frederick's Ryan O'Shea was even better, surrendering just one hit and one run in his dominant six innings. O'Shea struck out seven and walked three, departing with a 3-1 lead in the seventh.

Brett Jacobsen was the first Keys reliever and immediately gave up a base hit to Will Middlebrooks to kick off a disastrous defensive inning for Frederick. After Adalberto Ibarra grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice, Alex Hassan reached on an error by Keys second baseman LJ Hoes, advancing Ibarra to third and Hassan to second when Hoes throw to second skipped into left field. The Keys defense made another error on the very next play, as Butler's grounder to third was fired errantly to first by Abreu. Ibarra scored to make it 3-2 and Hassan moved to third. With the infield in, Jon Hee grounded into a 5-2 fielder's choice, with Hassan being throw out at home. But Ryan Dent dropped an infield single down the third-base line to score Butler with two outs and tie the game. Both runs were unearned.

The game was not tied for long, though, as Frederick loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the eighth. Abreu grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but the twin-killer scored Ronnie Welty to make it 4-3. Once again, the resilient Red Sox responded, as Middlebrooks, Ibarra, and Hassan connected for three consecutive two-out singles to even the score at four.

Both teams had baserunners in the ninth, but the inning finished without any runs, sending the series opener into extras. Frederick put the leadoff man aboard for the seventh time in ten innings when Welty walked to begin the frame. After Billy Rowell struck out against Kyle Fernandes, LJ Hoes' single moved Welty to second, and Abreu smacked the go-ahead hit a batter later. Three batters after that, Brian Ward's grounder was bobbled by Middlebrooks at third, allowing another run to score and giving the Keys a 6-4 lead.

Middlebrooks led the Sox with three hits, but lined out to open the last of the tenth. Ibarra was hit by a pitch and Hassan worked a walk, but Butler, who finished 0-5 on the night, slapped the ground-ball to short, triggering the game-ending double play.

Since Salem's 4-3 win in 10 innings on August 10, the Sox have dropped three straight extra-inning affairs in the past week and a half. Salem is now 7-6 in extra-inning games this season.

The penultimate homestand of the regular season continues on Saturday night as the Red Sox and Keys match up in the middle-match of the weekend series. Mark Holliman gets the ball for Salem opposite Frederick's Luis Noel, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05.

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Carolina League Stories from August 20, 2010


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