CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Three-Run Seventh Lifts Sox Past Keys

Published on May 20, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Salem, VA (May 20, 2012) - While Frederick's starter dealt six scoreless innings for the third straight day, the Salem Sox offense awakened with a three-run seventh to overcome a 2-0 deficit and escape Sunday's series finale with a 3-2 victory. Kyle Simon permitted just two hits in the first six frames, but the Sox pounded reliever David Walters for three hits in the seventh, including a laser-beam two-RBI single from Xander Bogaerts that transformed a 2-1 score into a 3-2 advantage. Brandon Workman pitched a quality start to keep Salem close, while Andrew Jones earned his first Carolina League with two perfect innings out of the pen. Mike Olmstead picked up his league-leading ninth save by dealing a scoreless ninth to clinch the win.

Workman allowed two runs on five hits in six innings, yielding both runs on a Michael Mosby triple in the fourth. Workman struck out seven and walked one, but the Sox trailed 2-0 when he departed.

Simon only gave up two hits in six innings, but walked five and hit a man, leading to Salem having baserunners in every single inning. With that said, Salem grounded into a pair of double plays and the clutch hit remained elusive. When Simon completed his outing, the Red Sox had been held scoreless for 17 consecutive innings since the seventh on Friday.

The seventh on Sunday turned out to be Salem's offensive catharsis, with four straight baserunners reaching after Matty Johnson flew out to begin the frame. Jackie Bradley, Jr. singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, scoring on Sean Coyle's single to right that Jeremy Nowak bobbled, enabling Coyle to scoot to second. Travis Shaw walked, creating the opportunity for a successful double steal that moved Coyle to third and Shaw to second. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Bogaerts laced a line drive over the head of the third-baseman for a two-run single to put the Sox on top 3-2. Bogaerts advanced to second on the throw to the plate and then moved to third as the toss to second got away.

With Christian Vazquez batting, a bizarre sequence unfolded and ended in the first ejection of the season for Salem Manager Billy McMillon. A pitch from Walters squirted past the catcher Adam Davis, but Bogaerts decided not to try and score. Presuming that the runner was on his way, Davis flipped the ball toward the pitcher at the plate, and the errant toss skipped slowly up the third base line. At that point, Bogaerts attempted to try and spring home, but the Keys third baseman, Mosby, scooped up the rolling ball and threw out the runner at the plate. Or did he?

The home plate umpire, Garrett Corl, had mysteriously called timeout in the middle of the play, saying that the play was over. Bogaerts raced back toward third, thinking he would be safe there, while Keys Manager Orlando Gomez argued the situation with Corl. After discussing the situation with his umpire partner, Aaron Larsen, the arbiters ruled Bogaerts out, igniting the argument from McMillon that eventually resulted in his ejection.

Thankfully, Jones and Olmsted did not allow Frederick to move a runner beyond first base in the final two innings, rendering Bogaerts' potential run as moot. A two-out single in the ninth from Aaron Baker prolonged the game, but Olmsted picked up his third strikeout of the ninth by punching out Mosby to finish the victory.

The win lifts Salem to 23-17 through 40 games, and the Red Sox are currently one half game behind the 24-17 Winston-Salem Dash in the Southern Division. On Tuesday, the Sox will welcome the Dash to LewisGale Field for a three-game series that will vault the winner into the top of the division heading into next weekend.

Following a day off on Monday, Salem will send Miguel Celestino to the mound on Tuesday against Winston's Jon Bachanov at 7:05. Wednesday's probable matchup features to righty Ryans, as Ryan Pressly and Ryan Buch will meet in an 11 AM morning contest. On Thursday, first round phenom Matt Barnes will make his LewisGale Field debut opposite Matt Heidenreich. Like the series opener, the finale will also start at 7:05.

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