Salem loses pitchers’ duel with Keys
Keith Couch was very, very good, but Trent Howard was even better on Saturday night, shutting down the Sox for six shutout innings in Frederick’s 1-0 win over Salem at LewisGale Field.
Howard scattered one hit and two walks, retiring the final 11 batters he faced over six innings in his second ever Carolina League start. Two Keys relievers pitched in and out of trouble, navigating through Salem opportunities as the Sox came up empty with runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth frames. Couch permitted just four hits in six phenomenal innings, but one big swing from Aaron Baker provided all the offense Frederick needed in acquiring its fourth shutout win of the season. It was the second shutout loss for the Red Sox. Read more
Frederick doubles up Salem
Mike Wright remained the panacea to all of Frederick’s problems, outdueling Drake Britton in the Keys’ 6-3 victory over the Red Sox on Friday night at LewisGale Field.
While the Keys have gone just 7-22 in games started by other pitchers, Frederick improved to 6-2 with the Wright guy on the mound, improving their league-worst record to 13-24 in the series opener in Salem. Britton matched Wright through five scoreless innings, but the Keys broke through in a four-run sixth and never trailed to spoil the beginning of the Sox’ homestand. Read more
Lynchburg falls 2-1
Another pitchers’ duel ensured and again the Hillcats were on the wrong end by a score of 2-1. Jake Petricka and Aaron Northcraft went pitch-for-pitch, but it was Brady Shoemaker’s RBI single in the 8th that was the difference in the Winston-Salem win.
After last last’s pitcher’s duel with a pair of top prospects on the mound, the Hillcats had the tall order of facing the Chicago White Sox’s number four prospect, Jake Petricka. While Aaron Northcraft hasn’t had the fan faire of Petricka, he certainly looked every bit as stellar. Read more
Richmond wins 1-0 in 14
The Richmond Flying Squirrels (20-20) defeated the Harrisburg Senators (22-17), 1-0, in 14 innings at The Diamond on Thursday night.
In a game in which neither team pushed a base runner past second base over the first 13 innings, the Squirrels plated the game-winner without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the 14th inning. The ballgame marked the longest game of the season for both clubs. Read more
Sox mow down Mudcats, 2-0
Matt Barnes struck out a career-low five batters, but still overwhelmed another opposition with six scoreless innings in Salem’s 2-0 shutout victory over Carolina on Thursday night.
Allowing just two hits, Barnes let his defenders make plays behind him, scattering six groundouts and two fly balls amidst his 74-pitch, 47 strike performance. In eight professional starts, Barnes now possesses a 4-0 record and 0.60 ERA (3 ER/44.2 IP), with 67 strikeouts and six walks. Read more
Senators take down Richmond, 3-1
The Harrisburg Senators (22-16) cruised behind right-hander Jeff Mandel to a, 3-1, victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels (19-20) in front of 4,281 at The Diamond on Wednesday night. The win marked the fifth straight for the Senators, also netting them the three-game series. Harrisburg is now a perfect 7-0 in road series this season.
The Senators scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Eury Perez led off and pushed a bunt-single up the first-base line and out of the reach of Richmond left-hander Jason Stevenson. Perez stole second base, and scored a batter later when Jesus Valdez sent a soft-single into center field. The run was unearned due to an error charged to Richmond center fielder Gary Brown on the single from Valdez. Read more
Wilmington tops Lynchburg, 7-5
The Hillcats fell down 4-0 early, but battled to take the lead on a Braeden Schlehuber three run bomb. However, the bullpen couldn’t hold off the Blue Rocks offense late. An emotional game led to two Blue Rocks coaches being ejected, but the Rocks came away with 7-5 win.
Greg Billo got off to a hot start to his day on the mound for the Blue Rocks by striking out three of the first four batters he faced. His offense was able to thank him with two runs in the top of the second. Read more
