SalemSox.com

Salem, VA (July 26, 2010)- Mitch Dening tied a season-high with four base hits and recorded two outfield assists, including cutting down a runner at the plate in the fifth inning, as the Salem Red Sox defeated the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5-4 in front of 4,219 fans at Lewis-Gale Field on Monday night.

The victory was the 13th in 15 games for the Sox against their South Carolina rivals.

Dening's four hits included a leadoff double in the bottom of the first that sparked a three-run rally to overcome an early 1-0 deficit.

Three batters later, Will Middlebrooks drove in Dening to knot the game at one. Still with two outs, Middlebrooks came home on a Tim Federowicz single, while Alex Hassan, who had walked with two away, scored on a double from Dan Butler to put Salem up 3-1 after one.

After Jordan Kreke's RBI single in the third brought the Birds to within 3-2, Dening played a key role in another rally with his third hit of the game in the fourth. The Sox right fielder singled with two outs to move Jon Hee to second, and Peter Hissey came through with a single to right to score Hee and put the Sox up 4-2.

Dening's fine night extended to his defense. With two outs in the fifth and Dan Nelson on first, former Salem Sock Mike Jones doubled off the wall in right.

Dening originally misjudged the ricochet off the wall, but recovered by unleashing a cannon to the plate to nab Nelson trying to score for the final out of the frame.

The Australia-native also threw Nelson out in the seventh, as the Pelican third baseman attempted to extend a single into a double but was denied on a perfect strike from Dening in right.

Luis Sumoza singled home Kreke in the sixth to bring Myrtle back within one, but the Sox responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth off Pelican reliever Paul Clemens to regain their two-run advantage.

Clemens unleashed three wild pitches in the frame, the second of which scored Dening, who had reached on an error with one out.

Kreke scored his second run of the game on a sac fly in the eighth, but the Pelicans could get no closer, as Pat Ryan worked in and out of trouble in the final 1.2 innings, eventually stranding the tying run in the ninth at second. Ryan recorded his first save of the season in the process.

Dening's four-hit effort led the Sox' 12-hit attack and increased his average eight points from .286 to .294. Hissey, Federowicz and Butler all recorded two-hit games and drove in one run apiece.

Caleb Clay was solid for the Sox en route to his fourth victory of the year. Clay went five and a third innings, yielding three runs on nine hits, while striking out three and walking just one.

The Sox and Pelicans continue their three game set at Lewis-Gale Field Tuesday at 7:05 PM.

Stolmy Pimentel, coming off back-to-back seven inning starts, will look to continue his impressive streak against Myrtle's Zeke Spruill.

Lynchburg-Hillcats.com

Lynchburg homered four times in a game for the first time this season en route to a 7-4 victory at Frederick. Neftali Soto smacked a three-run homer in the first and now leads the team with 15 homers and 54 RBI.

The Hillcats wasted no time jumping all over the Keys with a five-run first inning. The first five Cats that came to the plate all got hits and all scored. Neftali Soto started the scoring with a three-run home run.

It was his team-leading 15th of the season and it was his first three-run shot of the campaign. After a single by Denis Phipps, Chris Richburg followed with a two-run homer, his first as a Hillcat to make it a 5-0 game with still no outs recorded in the ballgame.

In the third inning the Green & Gold added to their lead with another long ball, this one a solo shot by Phipps, his fifth dinger in 12 games with the Hillcats.

That homer gave Phipps seven straight hits, which tied Pedro Powell for the most consecutive hits in Hillcats history.

The Keys plated their first run of the evening in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Kyle Hudson to make it 6-1.

With the bases loaded later in that inning with one out, Billy Rowell hit a sharply hit ground ball down the third base line that appeared to be headed into the left field corner. But Shane Carlson made a diving stop, got to his feet, stepped on third base and threw to first in time for the inning ending double play.

The next half inning Carlson started things off by hitting his first homer as a Cat to up the lead to 7-1.

Frederick got back within striking distance in the bottom of the seventh inning with three runs to pull within three at 7-4.

Bobby Stevens, Xavier Avery and Hudson had three straight doubles to plate a pair of runs and chase Hillcats starter James Avery from the contest. Ronnie Welty singled in another run in the inning to finish the scoring in the frame and on the night.

The win went to Avery (6-3) and the save was notched by Donnie Joseph (11) for Lynchburg (13-17, 42-58) and the loss went to starter Nathan Moreau (3-1) for Frederick (15-15, 56-44).

The Hillcats will look for their fourth straight win on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium.

Right-hander Chase Ware (0-2, 3.66) will get the call for the Cats opposite righty Ryan Berry (2-1, 2.67) scheduled to start for the Keys.

Lynchburg-Hillcats.com

Kevin Coddington had two extra base hits including his first triple of the season and the Lynchburg Hillcats took the finale 6-5 over the Salem Red Sox. Lynchburg and Salem split the four game series.

The Cats jumped on starter Michael Lee in the first inning. Josh Fellhauer was hit by a pitch and Cody Puckett doubled to left field. With runners at second and third, Neftali Soto struck out and Denis Phipps walked.

Then Kyle Day hit a two-run single to put Lynchburg in front 2-0. He extends his hitting streak to 11, tied for the longest by a Hillcat all season.

In the second, Coddington led off with a triple and scored on a wild pitch during Jose Gualdron's at-bat. It was Coddington's first triple of the season in Lynchburg.

Salem scored one in the third, and a Will Middlebrooks home run pulled the Sox within one. But Lynchburg scored one more in the fifth. Phipps drove in Fellhauer with a single. Fellhauer singled to lead off the frame.

In the sixth, Lynchburg scored again. Brodie Greene singled, stole second and scored on Coddington's double.

Salem struck for two in the top of the seventh to pull the Red Sox within one. Dan Butler walked then scored on Jon Hee's double.

That spelled the end of starter Jordan Hotchkiss. Reliever Dan Guerrero entered the game and surrendered a double to Ryan Dent that scored Hee. Salem was back within one once again, 5-4.

But the cats added some insurance in the seventh. Soto and Phipps led off with two singles. After a pitching change, Chris Richburg pinch hit and hit a sac fly that drove in Soto. Richburg notched his first RBI with the Hillcats.

After scoring one more in the eighth, the Red Sox put the tying run on first base. Dan Butler singled to lead off the inning and was pinch run for by Luis Segovia.

Hee then singled to put the tying run at second. After a Dent sacrifice bunt, Mitch Dening was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Peter Hissey flew out to left field, and Oscar Tejeda grounded out to the mound to end the game.

Jordan Hotchkiss threw a solid six and one-third innings. He gave up four runs and struck out two and gets the win, his seventh of the season. Justin Freeman earns his seventh save.

Lynchburg heads on the road for six games starting tomorrow night at Frederick for a 7 p.m. start.

James Avery (5-3, 3.05) starts for the Cats against Nathan Moreau (3-0, 1.89).

Lynchburg-Hillcats.com

Curtis Partch threw six scoreless innings and Neftali Soto homered to provide all the offense the Cats would need. Lynchburg shutout Salem 3-0 to take game three of the four game series.

The Hillcats struck first in the fourth against Sox starter Brock Huntzinger. Neftali Soto led off the frame with a home run to right-center field to put Lynchburg up 1-0. Denis Phipps followed with a double. He stole third during Brodie Greene's at-bat, and scored on Greene's single.

The Cats scored once again in the sixth. Soto led off with a double, and Phipps drove him in with a double as well. The two combined for six of Lynchburg's nine hits, two RBI, three runs scored and five doubles. Soto had the homer and two doubles. Phipps had three doubles.

Partch sparkled on the mound for Lynchburg. For the first time this season he didn't allow an earned run in a start. In six innings, he didn't allow a run. He gave up two hits, two walks and struck out six. He gets the win. Donnie Joseph worked a scoreless ninth to earn the save, his 10th in 11 opportunities with the Cats.

Lynchburg and Salem conclude their four-game series
Sunday night at 6:05.

Jordan Hotchkiss (5-3, 3.05) throws for the Hillcats against Michael Lee (7-3, 3.79) for the Red Sox.

SalemSox.com

Lynchburg, VA - After scoring just nine runs in their previous four games, the Salem Red Sox busted out in a big way, blowing out the Lynchburg Hillcats 11-2 on Friday night at Calvin Falwell Field.

Jason Place blasted two late-inning home runs and Alex Hassan hit a two-run blast of his own and drove in four runs for the second straight day.

Up 6-2 in the eighth, Place hammered an opposite field solo home run over the auxiliary scoreboard in right-center for his first dinger in a Salem uniform in 2010.

Hassan came up with two outs in the ninth and backed up his grand slam last night with a two-run bomb over the left field wall to put the Sox up 9-2.

Two batters later, Place sent a laser to dead center field that cleared the batter's eye and gave Salem an 11-2 lead.

Salem jumped out to an early lead off of Lance Janke, tallying four runs in the second inning with the aid of five base hits, an error, a sac fly, and a balk.

After Will Middlebrooks singled to lead off the frame, he advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt and moved to third on a balk before the next pitch.

Hassan then scorched a line drive to left that ended up as a sac fly and gave Salem a 1-0 advantage. Drew Hedman doubled home Dan Butler later in the inning and came home along with Place on a two-run single by Mitch Dening to put Salem up 4-0.

The Sox extended their advantage in the third inning, as Oscar Tejeda singled and Will Middlebrooks doubled to put runners on second and third with no one out in the third.

Hassan came through with an RBI groundout to score Tejeda, and Butler followed Hassan with an RBI double down the right field line to put Salem up 6-0 after just two-and-a-half.

Kyle Day put Lynchburg on the board in the fourth with a two-out single off Salem starter Miguel Gonzalez to decrease the deficit to 6-1. Day later homered in the seventh off of Will Latimer for the only other Hillcat run.

The Red Sox finished with 17 hits on the night, two short of their season high. Eight of the nine batters in the Salem lineup recorded a hit, with six Sox recording multi-hit games. Place broke out of his 0-for-7 start with a 3-for-5 showing, including the two homers and three RBI.

Hassan tallied two hits and drove in four runs for the second straight night. Middlebrooks and Butler each added three hits and two runs, while Butler drove in his third run for Salem since being called up from low-A Greenville.

Lost in the offensive outburst was the solid performance of Gonzalez, who improved to 4-2. The former Rule 5 pick went five innings, allowing just one run on five hits, lowering his ERA to 4.95 in the process.

Salem looks for their third consecutive win in Lynchburg at 6:05 PM Saturday.

Brock Huntzinger takes the mound for the Sox opposite the Hillcats' Curtis Partch.

SalemSox.com

Lynchburg, VA (July 22, 2010)- Stolmy Pimentel was masterful over seven superb innings, Alex Hassan crushed a two-out third inning grand slam to provide some cushion, and the Salem Red Sox defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats 5-1 on Thursday night at City Stadium.

After being swept in their last trip to the Hill City, the Sox won their first game at Calvin Falwell Field since April 18.

Pimentel pitched into the seventh for the second straight start, allowing just a solo home run to Denis Phipps in the second inning, but retired 18 of the next 20 batters he faced, including 14 in a row at one point.

The Dominican righthander struck out a season-high seven batters, including all three in the third, dropping his season ERA to 4.21. In his two starts since pitching in the XM Futures Game, Pimentel (6-7) has posted a 1.93 ERA, allowing just three runs (two earned) in 14 innings, while striking out 14 and walking just three.

The Sox scored all five of their runs in the top half of the third. Mitch Dening tied the game at one with a one-out single to drive in Drew Hedman. Peter Hissey followed with a single, while Oscar Tejeda walked to load the bases with one gone.

After Tim Federowicz's fly ball to center resulted in no advancement of the runners, Hassan stepped to the plate and smacked a 2-1 offering from Chase Ware (0-2) over the left field wall for his first career grand slam, putting the Sox up 5-1.

That was more than enough for Pimentel, who handed the game to Seth Garrison in the eighth. After pitching for Salem in 2009, Garrison's return to the Sox in 2010 was rock solid, allowing just one hit over the final two frames while striking out three Hillcats.

Hassan finished the night 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBI. Dening collected two hits and also stole his 10th base of the year, while Tejeda compiled his team-leading 33rd multi-hit game of the year with a 2-for-3 showing.

The Sox and Hillcats continue their Route 460 rivalry on Friday night from the Hill City at 7:05 PM.

After winning his last start, Miguel Gonzalez takes the mound again for Salem against Lynchburg's Lance Janke.

SalemSox.com

Woodbridge, VA (July 21, 2010) - The Sox picked up their third come-from-behind victory in their last four games, erasing a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in eight innings in Wednesday's doubleheader opener against the Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium.

The host squad bounced back to swipe the nightcap 4-1, as Danny Rosenbaum picked up the win in his Carolina League debut.

Salem dropped two of three in the series in Potomac, but won six of ten at Pfitzner Stadium on the season.

Salem faced major league rehabber Jordan Zimmermann in the opener and as stymied during Zimmermann's four frames on the mound.

The Sox managed just two singles against Zimmermann, who threw 34 of his 47 pitches for strikes, striking out four.

The Nats took a 1-0 lead thanks to Michael Burgess' second inning solo homer and plated another run on a wild pitch in the fourth, but Salem finally broke through against reliever AJ Morris in the top of the sixth.

Luis Segovia began the rally with a one-out single and the Sox had the tying runners in scoring position when Peter Hissey doubled for the 20th time this season.

An Oscar Tejeda ground out put Salem on the board, bringing home Segovia to make it 2-1. With two outs, Will Middlebrooks singled to score Hissey and even the ballgame at two apiece.

The Nats threatened with two on and two outs in the seventh, but Pat Ryan popped out the red-hot Tyler Moore to send the game to extras. Ryan earned his first Carolina League victory by retiring all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Sox were able to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth against Nationals reliever Clayton Dill. Drew Hedman singled to start the inning, advanced to second on Segovia's sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Hissey's sac fly for the go-ahead tally.

In the second game, Moore provided the early fireworks again, blasting a two-run homer off Caleb Clay in the first inning. Moore finished the series with an absurd .727 average, with eight hits in 11 at-bats in the three games. The Nationals added one more in the second and another in the fifth, while Salem's lone run in the nightcap came in the fourth on a Tejeda RBI single.

In the top of the seventh, Dan Butler doubled to open the frame, but a possible rally was quelled when an apparent good bounce was taken away from the Sox. With Butler at second, Hassan hit a chopper down the third-base line.

Although the ball appeared to deflect directly off the third base bag down the left-field line, home plate umpire Gus Curtis signaled for a foul ball.

Instead of Butler scoring, Hassan reaching, and the tying run coming to the plate, Butler remained at second and the count was 0-2 to Hassan.

Salem manager Kevin Boles vehemently argued his case and was ejected by Curtis, the third time in 2010 that Boles has been tossed. Hassan and Hedman both flew out, and Segovia struck out against Dan Leatherman, who picked up his 11th save for the Nationals.

Salem continues its week-long road trip with a four-game series at City Stadium in Lynchburg.

The Red Sox and Hillcats kick off their series on Thursday night at 7:05, with Stolmy Pimentel making the start opposite Chase Ware.

Lynchburg-Hillcats.com

The Lynchburg Hillcats came back from a three-run deficit early to take a 5-3 lead, but the Frederick Keys exploded for seven runs in the ninth to take a 10-7 win.

The Keys take the final City Stadium series of the season between the two teams.

Frederick scored in the first inning against starter James Avery. Xavier Avery doubled to start off the game, and later scored on the triple by Ronnie Welty. James Avery got out of a jam, though. After walking the next hitter Billy Rowell, he retired the following two hitters.

Avery needed to pitch through a jam again in the third. Xavier Avery and Kyle Hudson reached to lead off the frame. After Welty struck out, Rowell walked again to load the bases. Buck Britton singled home one run. Pedro Florimon hit a shallow fly ball to left fielder Josh Fellhauer. Hudson tagged from third and beat the throw home by Fellhauer to make it 3-0.

Hillcats Manager Pat Kelly argued the call on the play at home and was ejected by home plate umpire Tim Rosso.

Lynchburg started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jose Gualdron reached on a single to lead off, and advanced to second on Efrain Contreras' sacrifice bunt. Gualdron advanced to third on Jordan Wideman's groundout and scored on Josh Fellhauer's single.

The Cats finished off the comeback in the fourth. Neftali Soto led off with a walk, then Denis Phipps hit a two-run blast to tie the ballgame. It was Phipps' second home run of the series (and in as many games), and third with Lynchburg.

With the game tied in the sixth, Kyle Day reached with a one out single. Brodie Greene hit a grounder to short that looked like a sure double play, but it went off the glove and through the legs of Florimon. The runners advanced to second and third. Contreras came up with two outs and singled home both runs to take the lead 5-3.

Donnie Joseph came in to close the game in the ninth for the Hillcats and walked the first three batters. He also had two wild pitches that scored Bobby Stevens and left the tying run in Avery at third base. With Keys at the corners (Hudson was the third walk) and nobody out, Ruben Medina relieved Joseph.

Medina faced Welty to start off, and he grounded a ball that Cody Puckett fielded and threw to second, but Greene missed the catch. Avery scored from third to tie the game. Billy Rowell was next up and lined a single to left that scored the go-ahead run. After a sacrifice bunt, Florimon cleared the bases with a three-run homer to put the Keys up 9-5.

Frederick scored one more run after Miguel Abreu reached on a single and scored on a wild pitch. When all was said and done in the frame, the Keys scored seven runs on four hits. Medina gets the blown save after all inherited runners scored with him on the mound, and Joseph gets the loss. The three runs that scored to put Frederick in front were all credited to him.

The Cats rallied for a couple runs in the bottom of the ninth. Fellhauer led off the inning with a double to the wall. Soto reached after getting hit by a pitch. Both runners scored on a double by Phipps to make it 10-7, but it wasn't enough. Greene grounded out to end the ballgame.

After struggling through the first few innings, James Avery settled down and threw six quality innings. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out three. He gets no decision after the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Lynchburg opens up a four-game weekend series with 460-rival Salem tomorrow night at 7:05. Chase Ware (0-1, 1.76) makes his first home start against Stolmy Pimentel (5-7, 4.45) for the Red Sox.

City Stadium features "Thursday Cheers" drink specials throughout the evening presented by Yuengling and Miller Lite. Gates open at 6 p.m.

SalemSox.com

Woodbridge, VA (July 20, 2010) - This marks the third time this year that a Salem-Potomac game has been impacted by the weather.

On Opening Day back in April, the Sox led 1-0 in the second inning when a torrential downpour blasted Pfitzner Stadium, forcing the Sox to suspend play and resume the next day.

The weather struck again when the two clubs traveled to Boston for the "Futures at Fenway" spectacle on July 10, as overwhelming rain created flooding in Beantown and denied the two clubs the opportunity to play at Fenway.

The Sox and Nats are now scheduled for two-seven innings game at Pfitzner Stadium on Wednesday night, with action set to begin at 5:30.

It will be the second doubleheader between the two clubs in the last week and a half. Salem and Potomac split a pair at Lewis-Gale Field on Monday, July 12.

Lynchburg-Hillcats.com

Neftali Soto hit a game-winning solo home run to lead off the eighth inning and give the Hillcats the 7-4 victory over the Keys.

The win snaps Lynchburg's seven-game home losing streak and gives the Cats an opportunity to win their second home series of the half.

Lynchburg jumped on Frederick and starter Ryan O'Shea early in the ballgame. Denis Phipps nailed a two-out, two-run triple to score Soto and Chris Richburg to make it 2-0Hillcats. Phipps then scored in Brodie Greene's double to make it a three-spot in the first inning for Lynchburg.

The Cats added one more after a home run by Phipps in the third inning off O'Shea. It was Phipps' second home run with Lynchburg, and first at City Stadium.

Jordan Hotchkiss was pulled after five shutout innings. And Frederick capitalized on the Hillcats bullpen.

Billy Rowell led off the sixth with a single. L.J. Hoes then hit a groundball to second that Cody Puckett fielded and threw to second base, but Greene missed the catch and both runners advanced to second and third.

Reliever Nick Christiani retired the next two batters, but Miguel Abreu hit a two-run single, and later scored on a single by Xavier Avery. That made it a 4-3 ballgame.

Against new Hillcat Ruben Medina, the Keys were able to tie it up. Rowell singled with one out and later scored on a ground out by Buck Britton.

With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Soto led off the frame with a home run off the scoreboard beyond the left field wall. The home run was Soto's second in as many games, his team-leading 13th this season and 10th at City Stadium.

But the Cats weren't done. Richburg singled right after Soto to notch his second hit as a Hillcat. His first was a double in the sixth. Phipps then doubled to put runners at second and third. Greene hit a sac fly to score Richburg, and Phipps scored on Kyle Day's single.

Donnie Joseph came on for the save and allowed the tying run to bat, but struck out the last two hitters he faced to get the save.

Hotchkiss didn't allow a run in his five innings, but doesn't get credit for the win. Medina gets a blown save and a win in his first appearance with Lynchburg. Joseph notched his ninth save of the season with the Hillcats.

Lynchburg and Frederick conclude their three-game series with the rubber game tomorrow night at 7:05.

Lynchburg will start James Avery (5-3, 2.89) opposite Ryan Berry (2-1, 2.39) for the Keys. Gates open at 6 p.m.