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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Sox Hang On For 2-1 Win Over Rocks

April 28, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


Salem, VA (April 28, 2010) - Salem held Wilmington to just one hit over the first eight innings, and third-baseman Will Middlebrooks crushed a two-RBI double in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and lead the Red Sox to a 2-1 triumph on Wednesday afternoon at Lewis-Gale Field. Alex Wilson surrendered only an infield single and one walk in five shutout innings for his best Carolina League start yet, striking out six Blue Rocks on the day. After Mitch Herold retired all nine men he faced in three innings out of the pen, Lance McClain pitched out of a bases-loaded predicament in the ninth, striking out the final two Rocks with the bags packed to earn the save and preserve the victory.

The 11:05 AM start presumably aided the two pitchers, as both Alex Wilson and Alex Caldera shined through the first five frames. Caldera struck out eight Sox hitters over five and two-thirds, but his scoreless streak ended in the sixth. Tim Federowicz and Ryan Lavarnway led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and Middlebrooks followed them up with Salem's only extra-base hit on the day, a line drive double to the left-center field gap. Both baserunners scored, and shortly thereafter, Caldera departed.

The Blue Rocks managed just two baserunners in the first eight innings against Wilson and Herold, and it was not until the ninth when Wilmington recorded its first hit to the outfield. The Rocks finished the day with three hits, all singles, and Salem pitchers issued just two walks (one intentionally). The threat in the top of the ninth began with an infield single to third base, followed by a bloop single to shallow left that evaded the Salem 'no-doubles' defense. J.D. Alfaro dropped down a sacrifice bunt down the third-base line and Middlebrooks charged and fielded it cleanly, but his throw bounced in and out of the glove of second-baseman Oscar Tejeda, who was covering first. Tejeda was charged with his seventh error of the season and the bases were loaded with nobody out.

Eric Hosmer, who began the day batting .435 but had gone 0-3 thus far, stepped in and belted a high fly to right, but Mitch Dening made the catch for the first out of the inning. On the play, all three runners tagged, making the score 2-1 and placing both the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position. McClain intentionally walked Romak after falling behind to a 3-1 count, and then proceeded to strike out Eddie Prasch and Ryan Wood consecutively to finish the ballgame.

Herold earned the win to improve to 2-0, while McClain picked up his second save. On the other side, Caldera absorbed the loss despite pitching well, falling to 1-1 on the year.

The Red Sox get Thursday off before starting another three-gamer at Lewis-Gale Field. The Kinston Indians come to town for a Southern Division matchup. Salem will send Stolmy Pimentel to the mound against Kelvin De La Cruz for Kinston, with the first pitch set for 7:05.

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Carolina League Stories from April 28, 2010


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