May 7, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Ranaudo dazzles as Greenville maintains tie atop Southern Division
![](http://www.soxprospects.com/players/images/ranaudo.anthony.jpg)
Pawtucket was beat up throughout its game and was handily dispatched by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (NYY) 10-1. Kyle Weiland battled through 5.1 innings, but gave up 5 runs on 6 hits while striking out 7 and walking 3. Clevelan Santeliz came on to replace Weiland in the sixth and struggled, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) in his 0.2 innings pitched. Jason Rice pitched the final two innings for the PawSox and yielded 1 run on 3 hits. The only Pawtucket run came in the top of the ninth on a Nate Spears single. Lars Anderson was a bright spot for the PawSox with a 2-for-4 day. He's hit at a .349 clip over the last 10 games. Pawtucket now sits at 15-13, 2.5 games behind the first-place Yankees.
Portland allowed a big ninth inning and although they started strong, fell to the New Britain Rock Cats (MIN) 10-7. Trailing 2-0 in the first, Jorge Padron smacked a grand slam to right field, giving the Sea Dogs a 4-2 lead. Will Middlebrooks picked up an RBI single in the second to extend the Portland lead to 5-2. He tallied another RBI single in the fourth, while Ryan Lavarnway scored on a wild pitch to give the Sea Dogs a 7-2 lead. Starter Michael Lee allowed one more run in the fifth, finishing with a line of 5.0 innings pitched and 3 runs allowed. He also struck out 3 batters and walked 2. Jeremy Kehrt was next on the mound and pitched into the eighth inning, giving up a pair of runs in his final inning of work to cut Portland's lead to 7-5. Seth Garrison came on to replace him, and though he managed to hold the lead in the eighth, the right hander was knocked around in the ninth, yielding 5 runs and was saddled with the loss.
Salem took advantage of an outstanding outing from its starting pitcher and held off the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (TEX) 2-1. Chris Hernandez got the start and pitched brilliantly, hurling 6.0 innings of shutout ball, while striking out 4 batters and walking just 1. A solo home run from Peter Hissey in the top of the first gave Salem an early 1-0 lead . The 21 year old is now hitting .315/.343/.478 on the season. Mitch Herold replaced Hernandez in the seventh and pitched two scoreless innings to hold the lead. Salem tacked on another run in the eighth on a Michael Almanzar single to extend the lead to 2-0. Cesar Cabral came on in the ninth, and though he allowed an unearned run, pitched well enough to earn his league-leading 7th save as Salem held on for the win.
Greenville also cashed in on solid efforts on the mound as they squeaked out a 1-0 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators (CWS). 2010 first-round draft pick Anthony Ranaudo started for the Drive, and pitched 6.0 outstanding shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 6 and walking just 1. The lone run of the game came in the third, when Heiker Meneses launched a solo home run to left-center field. The one single given up by Ranaudo was the only Intimidators hit of the game, as Juan Rodriguez and Dennis Neuman combined for a perfect final three innings to give the Drive the win.
Player of the Night: Anthony Ranaudo, who tossed 6.0 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out 6 and walking 1 in a Greenville victory over Kannapolis. Ranuado's record now stands at 2-1. He's also posted a 2.30 ERA in his first professional season, while striking out 30 and walking 11 in 27.1 innings pitched.