Extra Power Propels Sox Past Nats 12-6

Salem, VA (August 17, 2012) - The Salem Sox rocked Nationals pitching prospect Alex Meyer in the first inning and proceeded to double up Potomac 12-6 on Friday night at LewisGale Field. Drew Hedman led the way with three extra-base hits and three RBI as the Sox matched a Salem franchise record of 11 extra-base hits in a nine-inning game. Michael Almanzar and Carson Blair each belted two-run homers, and the Sox also recorded seven doubles and two triples to enjoy their second consecutive victory.

The Nationals actually struck first with two runs in the top of the first, both coming on Kevin Keyes' double off Sox starter Mike McCarthy. But Salem quickly answered against Meyer, who had given up just three earned runs in 29 innings over five starts in the Carolina League.

Six batters into the game, Salem already owned a team cycle. Heiker Meneses doubled to start the first, and Almanzar's two-run jack two batters later tied the game at two. After Brandon Jacobs walked, Hedman tripled to left to give the Sox a 3-2 lead. Adalberto Ibarra then singled to complete the team cycle, driving in Hedman to make it 4-2. Two batters later, Blair blasted a two-out, two-run homer to give the Sox a 6-2 edge.

Meyer settled down to throw scoreless second, third, and fourth innings, and the Nationals scored three times off McCarthy in the fourth to inch back within a run. But Salem widened the gap again in the fifth against reliever Adam Olbrychowski. Hedman's second triple of the game gave Salem a 7-5 advantage, and Shannon Wilkerson singled him home to make it 8-5. In the last of the sixth, Meneses and Zach Gentile drilled back-to-back doubles to add another run to the lead, while Olbrychowski walked three consecutive Sox to force in Salem's tenth run, and the Sox led 10-5.

In a topsy-turvy seventh, the Nationals scored once to make it 10-6 and had the bases loaded with one out, but Stephen King grounded into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play. In the bottom of the frame, RBI singles from Blair and Gentile added another two runs for the Sox, producing the 12-6 tally that eventually would become the final.

Will Latimer earned the win for Salem out of the pen, dealing two and two thirds innings and allowing one run on four hits. Meyer suffered the loss, permitting six runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings.

With seven doubles, two triples, and two homers, the Red Sox packed a ton of punch in their aggregate 15 hits. The Nationals actually outhit the Sox, but 14 of Potomac's 17 hits were singles. Every member of the Red Sox lineup recorded at least one hit, with Hedman going 3-for-4 and Meneses, Gentile, Wilkerson, and Blair all compiling multi-hit performances.

Salem will shoot for its third straight win against the Nationals on Saturday night, with Miguel Celestino on the mound opposite Matt Swynenberg. First pitch is slated for 6:05.