Jones helps Salem sweep double-header

Pawtucket scored single runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings and Michael Bowden and the bullpen were brilliant en route to a 4-0 victory over Charlotte. Bowden improved to 4-5 by allowing just 3 hits and 3 walks in 5.1 scoreless innings, striking out 4. Rocky Cherry went the next 1.2, allowing 3 hits and a walk. Javier Lopez struck out 2 in his 1.2 frames, and Jose Vaquedano punched out the only hitter he faced to end the game. Chris Duncan and Gil Velazquez carried the offense, as each man went 2 for 4 with a home run. Aaron Bates and Angel Chavez each went 2 for 4 as well, and Ivan Ochoa went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI.

It was a long night in Altoona for the Sea Dogs, as the Curve scored early and often and earned a 10-3 win. The brunt of the damage came against Ryne Lawson, who lasted just 3.0 innings but allowed 8 runs on 10 hits and 2 walks, striking out only 1 to fall to 3-10. Chad Rhoades wasn't much better in relief, as he allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk in his 2.0 innings, although he did strike out 3. Richie Lentz, Andrew Dobies, and Bryce Cox each tossed a scoreless frame to finish things up, but it was too little, too late for Portland by then. Luis Exposito had the best offensive showing for the Sea Dogs, going 3 for 4 with an RBI.

In the first of two for Salem on Tuesday, Seth Garrison and Armando Zerpa limited Myrtle Beach to just 5 hits as the Red Sox came away with the win, 3-2 in a seven-inning affair. Garrison went the first 4.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 6. Zerpa (1-2) was nearly unhittable in his 3.0 frames, as he allowed only 1 to go along with a walk and 2 strikeouts to earn the win. Red Sox DH Chih-Hsien Chiang provided most of the offense, going 1 for 3 with a 2-run home run in the fifth. Tim Federowicz also went deep in 3 at-bats, hitting a solo shot in the fourth, while Jon Hee went 2 for 3. Mike Jones also had a nice day, going 1 for 2 with a double and a walk.

Better offense and better pitching contributed to Salem's 10-1 annihilation of Myrtle Beach in game two, which also went seven innings. This time it was Jose Capellan and Josh Papelbon who held the Pelicans to just 5 hits, with Capellan going the first 3.2 giving up 4 of said knocks while striking out 4. Papelbon went the final 3.1 and gave up just the 1 hit while striking out a batter to improve to 4-1. Doubles were wild for the Salem offense, as the Red Sox hit 5 total in the game. Mike Jones hit one of them, as he went 3 for 5 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Tim Federowicz also hit one, and he also went 3 for 5 with an RBI. Che-Hsuan Lin went 2 for 3 with a double, 2 walks, 2 runs score and a steal, and David Mailman went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and 2 runs score. Luis Segovia actually drove in the most runs of any Red Sox hitter, going 2 for 4 with a double and 4 RBI.

What was a close game throughout became a heart-breaking loss for the Drive, as they allowed 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth and couldn't come back in the ninth, losing 5-2. Thus a brilliant start by Jeremy Kehrt was wasted, as Kehrt went 6.0 innings allowing only 1 run on 5 hits and a walk, striking out 2. Jason Blackey (0-1) ended up the loser in this one as he allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks in 2.0 innings. Greenville ended up with only 3 hits in the game, but 2 belonged to Casey Kelly, who went 2 for 4 with a home run, his first of the year, and 2 runs scored.

Lowell's game against Jamestown was postponed due to rain.

In another tightly contested battle, the GCL Red Sox emerged victorious over the GCL Orioles, winning a close 3-2 decision in a game that went ten innings. Drake Britton started this one and went 2.0 scoreless innings, while Manny Rivera allowed only 2 unearned runs in his 4.0 frames. Cesare Angeloni went the next 3.0 scoreless innings to earn the win, and Justin Erasmus closed it out with a scoreless ninth. Juan Bonifacio went 2 for 4 with a triple for the Red Sox, and Maykol Sanchez went 2 for 4 as well. Felix Sanchez was 1 for 5 with a home run in the game.

Sound pitching and sufficient hitting propelled the DSL Red Sox to victory against the DSL Royals, 4-1. Francisco Taveras (3-2) continued his mound dominance with 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits and 2 runs while striking out 6. Wilfi Santana went the rest of the way, allowing just the 1 run on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 4. Curtney Doran was the offensive leader for the Red Sox, going 2 for 4 with an RBI, a run scored and his twentieth steal of the season. Heiker Menses also had a good night, going 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored.

Player of the Night: Mike Jones, who went a combined 4 for 7 with 2 doubles as Salem swept a double-header over Myrtle Beach.

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