CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Sox Drop Three Consecutive One-Run Contests to Keys

Published on July 30, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Frederick, MD (July 29, 2009) - Using a strategy appropriate for such a duel of dominant arms, Keys center-fielder Matt Angle decided that bunting would be his best option to break a late-game scoreless tie. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Angle executed a perfect bunt up the first base line, leaving Salem defenseless against the Keys scoring the game's first and only run to defeat the Red Sox 1-0 in the series finale at Harry Grove Stadium. The victory earned Frederick a 10-10 split of the season series with Salem, the first time the two cities split the full-season slate evenly since 1998.

The pitchers' battle between Seth Garrison and Pedro Beato was reminiscent of Casey Kelly and Brian Matusz' scoreless duel back on June 6, when the Sox and Keys proceeded 0-0 into the tenth inning before the Red Sox finally won 5-0. Garrison and Beato each tossed seven dominant innings for their respective teams, in which no runner for either team would ever reach third base. Garrison, who had given up just eight earned runs over his last nine games, struck out seven while only surrendering two hits and two walks. The Red Sox righthander faced just one more than the minimum over seven innings, throwing 84 pitches, 53 for strikes.

The performance was almost as noteworthy as that from Frederick's Beato, who did not walk anyone and struck out six over his seven innings of work. Yielding just four hits, all singles, Beato retired the final 12 batters he faced after Salem's Mike Jones led off the fourth with a single to center.

With the game scoreless into the eighth, Pat Egan entered from the Keys bullpen and immediately plastered another zero on the scoreboard, setting down the Sox in order. The bottom of the eighth was not a similar cakewalk for Kyle Fernandes.

After Tyler Henson led off with a single, just Frederick's third hit of the game, Matt Tucker drew a walk that put multiple Keys on base for the first time all night. After Ryan Adams failed in his bunt attempt and struck out, Billy Rowell moved the runners over with a slow dribbler to the mound. Fernandes' only play was to first, and two men were in scoring position with two away. The Red Sox chose to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Caleb Joseph to load the bases, setting the stage for the Keys' leadoff man Angle. With a deceptively late square, Angle bunted perfectly down the first base line, catching the Red Sox off guard. Will Vazquez was forced to attack the baseball but had no play at any base as Henson scored from third.

Salem had a baserunner in the top of the ninth when Mike Jones was hit with a two-out, two-strike pitch from Egan, but pinch-hitter Luis Exposito grounded into a fielder's choice to end it and give the third straight one-run victory to the Keys. Egan picked up his first Carolina League win, improving to 1-1, while Fernandes suffered the loss, dropping to 4-1 on the season.

Red Sox first baseman Anthony Rizzo singled in his first at-bat of the day and finished 1-1 at the plate, but he was removed from the game after three innings due to back stiffness. Salem manager Chad Epperson did not seem overly concerned after the game and classified the ailment as day-to-day.

Salem now heads to Wilmington to try to snap its five-game schneid. The Red Sox will send Kyle Weiland to the hill against Mario Santiago for the Blue Rocks in a 7:05 Thursday evening start at Frawley Stadium.

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Carolina League Stories from July 30, 2009


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