SalemSox.com

Kinston, NC (August 27, 2010) - The Red Sox endured their third one-run setback of the road trip on Friday night as the Indians snuck past Salem 2-1 at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Jeremie Tice's solo homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning broke a 1-all tie, and no one would score the rest of the night against the pair of dominant pitching staffs.

The Indians' victory moved them into the driver's seat for the final playoff spot in the Carolina League Southern Division, one game ahead of the Sox and a game and half ahead of the Pelicans.

T.J. House and Brock Huntzinger were both excellent, with House performing just a teensy-weensy bit better. House allowed one run on two hits in six innings, while Huntzinger surrendered two runs on four hits over six frames. Each starter was quality, yet the Red Sox offense was unable to muster enough to give Huntzinger his first win since July 12. House improved to 6-9, while Huntzinger's record dipped to 7-7.

Huntzinger only walked one, but he issued the free pass to the first batter of the ballgame, and the Indians manufactured a run to take an early lead. After Bo Greenwell reached, he stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Tice's sacrifice fly to right field.

Down 1-0 heading into the third, Ronald Bermudez doubled down the left-field line to start the inning. After he advanced to third on a wild pitch, Ryan Dent's sacrifice fly to center brought him in to tie the game.

An inning later, the Red Sox put the first two men aboard in a 1-1 game, yet Tim Federowicz and Drew Hedman both struck out, and Bermudez popped up to end the threat. The Sox would not have multiple runners on base the rest of the game.

Travis Turek tossed two scoreless innings for the K-Tribe, while Cory Burns picked up his league leading 26th save with a scoreless ninth.

Zach Hammes also dealt a pair of scoreless innings for the Sox in relief of Huntzinger. Each team finished with five separate players with one hit apiece, and both clubs went 0-3 with runners in scoring position.

Salem now has just two hits in 27 at-bats with runners in scoring position on their road trip, in which the Sox have scored just 10 runs in four games.

Stolmy Pimentel gets the ball for Salem opposite Joe Gardner in the middle-game of the series on Saturday evening.

The Sox will either bring themselves back to even footing in the standings or fall two games back.

First pitch is set for 7:00 PM at Grainger Stadium.

SalemSox.com

Myrtle Beach, SC - With four unearned runs, the Salem Sox snuck away from Myrtle Beach with a narrow 5-4 victory in the series finale to avoid being swept in South Carolina.

The Pelicans trailed 5-3 with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth, but four straight Birds reached to push the Red Sox to the brink before Kyle Fernandes struck out Gerry Rodriguez with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Sox head to Kinston in a virtual tie with the Indians for the final playoff spot, with Myrtle Beach just a half game out heading into the penultimate weekend of the season.

Salem finished 0-9 with runners in scoring position on Thursday night, yet three humungous errors by Myrtle Beach, all with two outs, allowed the Sox to emerge victorious.

Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Drew Hedman was plunked by a two-strike, two-out pitch, extending the inning for Ronald Bermudez. With the outfield playing very deep, Bermudez plopped a single down the right field line, which Luis Sumoza misplayed for an error that allowed Hedman to score.

As Hedman beat the throw home, Bermudez sprinted to third. Catcher Matt Kennelly fired errantly to third base and Bermudez came all the way around to score on a single with two defensive miscues, giving the Sox a 5-3 lead.

This came after the Pelicans made a pivotal two-out error with the bases loaded in the fifth inning that broke a 1-all tie. With the bags packed, Adalberto Ibarra bounced a chopper in between first and second.

Myrtle Beach first-baseman Mike Jones snared it to his right, but skipped a throw past the covering pitcher Angelo Paulino. The ball rung off the front railing of the Pelicans' dugout, allowing two runs to score.

Myrtle's sloppiness allowed the Red Sox to prevail despite only six Salem hits, none with runners in scoring position. Pelican pitchers walked four, plunked four, and endured three defensive shortcomings.

Incredibly, the Pelicans remained one hit away from their third straight walk-off victory before the Birds fell just short in the ninth.

Salem wasted another dynamite outing from a starting pitcher. Righthander Miguel Gonzalez delivered five steady innings, allowing just two hits and one run, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Gonzalez left with the Sox leading 3-1, but Mark Holliman entered and quickly coughed up the lead.

The Pelicans tied it up with two in the sixth against Holliman, who rebounded to hold the Pelicans scoreless in the seventh and the eighth. Holliman earned the victory, improving to 3-0. Fernandes surrendered one two-out run in the ninth, but earned his 11th save of the season.

Chad Rogers became the tough-luck loser for the Pelicans, dropping his record to 1-8 on the year. He allowed two of the four unearned runs on two hits, with two strikeouts and no walks.

Myrtle Beach starter Cory Rasmus was chased with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, and though two of the inherited runners scored, both of those runs went as unearned because of the costly error. Rasmus tossed four and a third, allowing just one earned (three total) on three hits, with four Ks and four walks.

Alex Hassan registered his second-straight multi-hit game to lead the Sox, finishing 2-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Hassan's double was Salem's only extra-base hit of the game.

Salem now ventures to Kinston for a monumental series against the K-Tribe.

Currently tied in the games back column and only miniscule percentage points behind the Indians in the chase for the final playoff spot, the Sox send Brock Huntzinger to the mound in game one of the series at Grainger Stadium.

Kinston counters with southpaw T.J. House. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

HokieSports.com

BRISTOL, Conn. - Virginia Tech will host Duke on Feb. 26, 2011, in Cassell Coliseum and the ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm crew will be on hand for a day full of college basketball excitement.

The Hokies and the Blue Devils will tip off at 9 p.m. The Virginia Tech game versus Duke will be the only ACC game featured in the eight week series.

This will mark the Hokies' first-ever appearance on GameDay.

"We are excited and honored to be selected by ESPN to be part of their College GameDay," head coach Seth Greenberg said. "It is the next step as we continue to build our brand and create a national profile for our program.

"It is a reflection of our community, season ticket holders and students and their passion and ownership in our program. ESPN recognizes that Virginia Tech's environment is second-to-none in college basketball. I have no doubt that the Hokie Nation will come out in full force and show the nation the special atmosphere we have here at Virginia Tech."

ESPN's College GameDay Driven by State Farm, the popular eight-week Saturday morning and evening college basketball program originating from the site of ESPN's Saturday Primetime Presented by DIRECTV telecast, will expand to include an extra hour of analysis, news and features.

ESPNU will air the new first hour of College GameDay - returning for its seventh season beginning Saturday, Jan. 15 - at 10 a.m. and ESPN will continue to televise the show at 11 a.m. and a one-hour edition at 8 p.m.

The Saturday Primetime game-of-the-week series will be aired at 9 p.m.

"We look for a host site with great fan support and consistent success on the court," Nick Dawson, ESPN Director of Programming and Acquisitions said. "Coach Greenberg has Virginia Tech positioned to be a contender for the conference championship and we expect a tremendous atmosphere when the Hokies host defending National Champion Duke."

The 2011 series will open from Knoxville, Tenn., site of the Tennessee Volunteers men's and women's teams hosting the men's and women's Vanderbilt Commodores programs at noon and 8 p.m., respectively.

It will mark the first time the show has originated from a site that has featured a men's and women's game played in the same day.

College GameDay will feature show host Rece Davis with returning analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis and Bob Knight.

SalemSox.com

Myrtle Beach, SC (August 25, 2010) - Cody Johnson missed a walk-off homer by inches in center-field, but Samuel Sime had taken nothing for granted.

The Pelican third-baseman sprinted around the bases all the way from first and scored the winning run on Johnson's blast with one out in the ninth, giving Myrtle Beach a come-from-behind, 3-2 walk-off win for the second consecutive day.

The Pelicans have overcome 2-0 deficits in both games of the series, and with the pair of dramatic wins, the Birds leapfrogged the Sox in the Southern Division standings.

At 29-30 in the second half, Myrtle Beach sits ahead of the Red Sox by half a game, as Salem slipped to 26-28.

The Sox wasted a masterful outing by Michael Lee, who tossed six one-hit innings in his first start in 11 days.

Lee yielded just one walk and struck out six, but was denied a victory despite departing with a 2-0 lead.

The Pelicans plated a pair off Cesar Cabral in the last of the seventh, with Jordan Kreke delivering an RBI double and Luis Sumoza, Tuesday's walk-off hero, driving in the tying run on a ground-out to shortstop.

Cabral tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, but the blown save was his third of the year for Salem.

In the ninth, reliable righthander Pat Ryan struck out Mike Jones to begin the frame, but Sime slapped a single to center field with one out, and Johnson launched the deep drive to center a batter later to end the game.

The fly-ball hit just below the yellow line on the fence, but Johnson was wrapping around second base when Salem's relay throw to the plate arrived way too late to get the hustling Sime.

Ryan was tagged with the loss, his first of the season.

The ninth inning heroics made a winner of Luis Avilan, one of three Pelican pitchers who threw admirably on Wednesday night.

Starter Brett Oberholtzer struck out six in six strong innings, with just two runs allowed in the fifth inning as the only blemish to his stat line.

Tommy Palica held the Sox scoreless in an inning and a third, while Avilan dealt an inning and two thirds to pick up the victory, improving to 4-3.

Salem's fifth inning runs came thanks to a Mitch Dening RBI single and an Alex Hassan sacrifice fly.

The Sox had countless opportunities, but went just 1-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners on base. Hassan finished 2-3 with an RBI as the only Red Sock with multiple hits.

Trailing in the playoff chase for the first time since mid-July, the Red Sox will look to avoid being swept by the Pelicans in the series finale on Thursday night.

Miguel Gonzalez will make the start for Salem opposite Cory Rasmus for Myrtle Beach, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

SalemSox.com

Myrtle Beach, SC - Pelicans right-fielder Luis Sumoza hammered a line drive into the right-center field gap with two outs in the bottom of ninth, easily scoring Jordan Kreke from second base, to propel Myrtle Beach to a 3-2 triumph in the series opener against the Red Sox.

Sumoza, once a Red Sox farmhand, had also driven in the tying run with an RBI single in the seventh, and the Venezuelan outfielder was mobbed by his teammates in between first and second after he delivered the second Pelican walk-off knock in the past four days at BB&T Coastal Field.

With the win, Myrtle Beach inched to within a half game of Salem in the second-half playoff chase. Rained out Kinston remained one game out.

The late inning dramatics from Sumoza spoiled a sensational start for Salem righthander Caleb Clay, who tossed six superb innings for the Red Sox.

Clay struck out a season-high six batters and allowed just one run in the six frames, yet received a no-decision.

The Pelicans plated one run against Seth Garrison in the seventh inning and won the game when Will Latimer gave up consecutive two-out hits in the ninth.

Salem jumped on top with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning against Myrtle Beach starter Paul Clemens.

Tim Federowicz muscled a one-out RBI double that made it 1-0, and three batters later, Drew Hedman's second double of the game plated Federowicz and gave the Red Sox a 2-0 edge. Hedman finished the game as the only Red Sock with multiple hits on the night.

Pelicans catcher Matt Kennelly sliced the deficit in half with a solo homer against Clay in the sixth, and Sumoza slapped a clutch two-out single against Garrison in the seventh to even the score at two.

In the ninth inning, the game remained tied and the bases were empty with two outs. But Kreke crushed a double into the left-field corner to prolong the frame, and Sumoza smoked a sinking liner that bisected Peter Hissey and Mitch Dening in the outfield.

Sumoza could have gotten a double or perhaps a triple from his gapper, but his euphoric teammates surrounded him before he reached second, earning Sumoza a walk-off single.

The Pelicans bullpen dominated the Red Sox with five strikeouts and only one hit allowed in three scoreless innings. Jason Lowey picked up his first win as a Bird, striking out four in two innings.

Salem and Myrtle Beach continue their three-game series on Wednesday night, with Michael Lee scheduled to come off the disabled list to make the start for the Red Sox.

Brett Oberholtzer is slated to get the ball for the Pelicans, with the first pitch set for 7:05 at BB&T Coastal Field.

August 23, 2010

SalemSox.com

Salem, VA - Batting at the top of the order for just the fourth time all year, Ryan Dent provided the offensive spark to rally the Red Sox over the Keys 4-1 in Sunday's series finale at Lewis-Gale Field. The Salem shortstop went 3-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle, and catapulted the Sox back to the .500 mark in the second half at 26-26. With 16 results still left to determine, the Sox are in the pole position for the final playoff spot in the Southern Division. But Salem will be tested by their two closest competitors in the coming week, as the Sox hit the road for a six-game trip through Myrtle Beach and Kinston.

The Keys took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning against Salem starter Stolmy Pimentel, but the Sox assumed an advantage that they would not relinquish in the third. Dent, who had already singled in his first at-bat, smacked a line-drive homer over the left-field fence to tie the game at one. On the very next batter, Keys lefthander Nathan Moreau served up another dinger, as Alex Hassan curled a deep fly around the foul pole in left to give Salem a 2-1 edge. The round-trippers were Dent's fifth and Hassan's seventh on the year, and the Sox pitching staff would make the runs stand up the rest of the way.

The trio of Pimentel, Cesar Cabral, and Pat Ryan allowed just four hits in the ballgame. Though they tied a season-high with seven walks, Salem's hurlers consistently delivered the clutch pitch when they needed it, forcing the Keys to bat 1-15 with runners in scoring position. Ryan entered with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, but left all three runners aboard by inducing an infield pop-up from pinch-hitter Miguel Abreu.

Pimentel improved to 9-9 with five and two-thirds innings of three-hit ball, surrendering just the one run. Cabral tossed two scoreless innings in relief before Ryan recorded the final four outs to pick up his fourth save. Ryan has not allowed any runs in his last 11 appearances, and his ERA dipped to 0.47.

Salem added insurance tallies in the sixth and seventh innings. Peter Hissey's RBI single plated Tim Federowicz in the sixth, and Oscar Tejeda's base knock scored Ronald Bermudez in the seventh. Federowicz went 2-4 in his first game back in the lineup since August 7, when he suffered a right thumb laceration on a foul ball. The catcher from Apex, NC batted fifth and delivered his 33rd double of the season, third-most in the Carolina League.

Most noteworthy for Frederick was third-baseman Billy Rowell, who went 2-4 with two doubles in his 334th Carolina League game. On Sunday, Rowell passed Cory Keylor for the top spot on the all-time games played list in Keys history. The former first-round pick scored Frederick's only run as the Keys slipped to 27-29 in the second half.

Following Monday's off-day, the Salem Sox journey on their final road trip of the regular season. The action kicks off in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday night, as the Sox seek to improve their 14-3 season series record against the Pelicans. Caleb Clay will throw for the Sox in the opener, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

HokieSports.com

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech Athletics Department announced today the extension of Head Football Coach Frank Beamer's contract through Dec. 31, 2016. Beamer's current contract expires Dec. 31, 2012.

"I appreciate Virginia Tech's confidence in me leading this program," said Beamer, who is entering his 24th season at the helm. "I believe that continuity has led to the consistency in our program, and we hope for even better days ahead."

Negotiations for the compensation package will begin in January of 2012 to be effective with the start of the contract extension.

"I am very pleased that Frank Beamer will lead our football program the next seven years," Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver said. "He has led the Hokies to unprecedented heights, including 17 straight bowl games and six consecutive 10-win seasons."

SalemSox.com

Salem, VA - In danger of dropping out of the lead for the final playoff spot in the Southern Division, the Salem Sox came through with a brilliant final three innings on Saturday night at Lewis-Gale Field, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to dispatch the Frederick Keys, 6-4.

Dan Butler and Peter Hissey both came through with huge hits, as Butler's two-run double in the seventh transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead, and Hissey's two-run triple in the eighth gave the Sox some breathing room.

It was just Salem's third win in its last 12 games and only the second time in the last 12 that the final outcome was decided by more than three runs. But the Sox were clutch on Saturday night, and Pat Ryan struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the four-run victory.

Both starting pitchers tossed quality efforts, but neither factored in the decision.

The Keys scored both their runs off Sox starter Mark Holliman in the fourth inning, with Ronnie Welty and Billy Rowell connecting on back-to-back doubles to begin the frame.

Welty scored the game's first run on Rowell's two-bagger, and Rowell scored when Holliman tossed wildly to first on a grounder back to the mound off the bat of L.J. Hoes. The second run was unearned and Holliman finished with six innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.

Salem was able to answer in the last of the fourth and scratched their only run against Keys starter Luis Noel.

After Oscar Tejeda singled with one out and Adalberto Ibarra walked with two away, Hissey looped a sinking liner into right-center field to put the Sox on the board.

Ibarra made it all the way to third and Hissey advanced to second on the throw, but Butler struck out and the Sox squandered an early chance to take the lead. Salem would do little else offensively against Noel, who authored six fine innings, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

With the Keys leading 2-1 at the seventh inning stretch, the Sox were poised to tee off against the Frederick bullpen.

Cole McCurry replaced Noel and immediately walked the first two batters he faced. Despite getting ahead of Butler 0-2, the Red Sox catcher made McCurry pay for the initial wildness, lacing a double to the wall in left that brought home both baserunners and surged Salem into the lead for the first time.

Frederick pitchers walked seven Red Sox in the game, and three of those men came across to score.

In the eighth, John Mariotti replaced McCurry, retired the first two men he faced, but could not set down any of the next five.

Will Middlebrooks singled and advanced to second on the throwing error by Rowell. Ibarra then drew his third walk of the game, and both runners came home on Hissey's sixth triple of the season. Butler fortuitously earned an RBI single on a swinging bunt down the third base line, and Jon Hee doubled to advance Butler to third before Dent flew out to end the threat.

With a 6-2 lead in the bank, Ryan offered his tenth consecutive scoreless appearance out of the bullpen, striking out the side in the ninth.

Though not a save situation, Ryan completed a super night for the Salem pen. Zach Hammes picked up the victory, improving to 2-3, allowing just one hit in two scoreless frames for the Red Sox.

Hissey, batting sixth for the first time all season after 107 games hitting in the top two spots in the order, went 2-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and a walk. Butler, hitting right behind Hissey, also muscled two hits and drove in three runs. Tejeda also went 2-4 for the Red Sox, bringing his total of multi-hit games to a team-high 41.

The win improves Salem to 67-54, 25-26 in the second half, and ensures that the Sox will remain a half-game ahead of the Indians-Pelicans winner Saturday winner heading into Sunday's action.

After the series finale with Frederick, the Sox will venture on a pivotal six game trip to take on both Myrtle Beach and Kinston.

The penultimate homestand concludes with a matinee rubber match on Sunday, as Stolmy Pimentel takes the mound for the Sox against Keys lefthander Nathan Moreau.

It will be Moreau's first time pitching in Salem since he no-hit the Sox in his Carolina League debut on June 30.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 in what will be the final regular season meeting of 2010 between Frederick and Salem.

SalemSox.com

Salem, VA (August 20, 2010) - After four hitless at-bats, Keys third-baseman Miguel Abreu delivered an RBI single in the top of the tenth to give Frederick a 5-4 lead, and the visitors added another unearned tally to prevail 6-4 in Friday night action at Lewis-Gale Field.

Salem overcame deficits of 3-1 and 4-3, but down by two in the last of the tenth, Dan Butler grounded into a 6-4-3double play to end the game after the Sox had put the tying runs aboard with one out.

Salem was handed it's ninth loss it its last 11 games, dropping the Red Sox to 24-26 in the half and 66-54 on the season.

Despite the rough stretch, the Sox remained a half-game ahead of the Pelicans and the Indians for the final playoff spot, as Myrtle Beach fell to Kinston 6-4. The three clubs are separated by just a half game in the second-half standings.

Both starters delivered quality performances for their clubs, as Brock Huntzinger scattered nine hits in six innings innings, allowing three runs with five strikeouts.

But Frederick's Ryan O'Shea was even better, surrendering just one hit and one run in his dominant six innings. O'Shea struck out seven and walked three, departing with a 3-1 lead in the seventh.

Brett Jacobsen was the first Keys reliever and immediately gave up a base hit to Will Middlebrooks to kick off a disastrous defensive inning for Frederick.

After Adalberto Ibarra grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice, Alex Hassan reached on an error by Keys second baseman LJ Hoes, advancing Ibarra to third and Hassan to second when Hoes throw to second skipped into left field.

The Keys defense made another error on the very next play, as Butler's grounder to third was fired errantly to first by Abreu.

Ibarra scored to make it 3-2 and Hassan moved to third. With the infield in, Jon Hee grounded into a 5-2 fielder's choice, with Hassan being throw out at home. But Ryan Dent dropped an infield single down the third-base line to score Butler with two outs and tie the game. Both runs were unearned.

The game was not tied for long, though, as Frederick loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the eighth. Abreu grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but the twin-killer scored Ronnie Welty to make it 4-3.

Once again, the resilient Red Sox responded, as Middlebrooks, Ibarra, and Hassan connected for three consecutive two-out singles to even the score at four.

Both teams had baserunners in the ninth, but the inning finished without any runs, sending the series opener into extras.

Frederick put the leadoff man aboard for the seventh time in ten innings when Welty walked to begin the frame.

After Billy Rowell struck out against Kyle Fernandes, LJ Hoes' single moved Welty to second, and Abreu smacked the go-ahead hit a batter later. Three batters after that, Brian Ward's grounder was bobbled by Middlebrooks at third, allowing another run to score and giving the Keys a 6-4 lead.

Middlebrooks led the Sox with three hits, but lined out to open the last of the tenth. Ibarra was hit by a pitch and Hassan worked a walk, but Butler, who finished 0-5 on the night, slapped the ground-ball to short, triggering the game-ending double play.

Since Salem's 4-3 win in 10 innings on August 10, the Sox have dropped three straight extra-inning affairs in the past week and a half. Salem is now 7-6 in extra-inning games this season.

The penultimate homestand of the regular season continues on Saturday night as the Red Sox and Keys match up in the middle-match of the weekend series.

Mark Holliman gets the ball for Salem opposite Frederick's Luis Noel, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05.

SalemSox.com

Winston-Salem, NC (August 19, 2010) - Despite a furious effort from the Winston-Salem grounds crew, the infield at BB&T Ballpark was deemed unplayable, postponing the final game and a half of the four-game series between the Red Sox and the Dash.

The clubs had been set to resume Wednesday's tilt at 6 PM, with the Sox leading 1-0 in the fourth inning, but the playing surface would not cooperate.

Therefore, both Wednesday's resumption and Thursday's scheduled game had to be pushed back to September.

The games will be played at Lewis-Gale Field, with the exact schedule of action to be released in the coming days.

In a rain-filled road trip, the Sox finished their week-long swing with a record of 1-3. Sunday's finale in Wilmington was also cancelled because of rain and the Sox were swept in two straight by the Rocks.

Salem bounced back with a 4-3 win on Monday in the series opener in Winston, however the Dash grabbed a 4-3 victory in 14 innings in game two of the set, a ballgame that spanned Tuesday and Wednesday in the Piedmont Triad.

The Red Sox entered the evening tied for the final playoff spot in the Carolina League Southern Division, and Salem looks to get back on track by returning home this weekend.

Salem will host Frederick at Lewis-Gale Field in a three-game series, beginning on Friday evening.

First pitch is set for 7:05, with Saturday's game scheduled for 6:05 and Sunday's matinee at 4:05.