Salem Red Sox make a push for playoffs by pounding Dash
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
Friday, August 9, 2013
DOG DAYS ROMP: The Carolina League postseason seems well within reach if the Salem Red Sox keep playing like this.
The Sox banged out 14 hits and drew nine walks in hammering Winston-Salem 13-4 on Thursday for their fifth win in six games.
ALL-AROUND IMPACT: Blake Swihart enjoyed a monster night both at the plate and behind it. The switch-hitting catcher went 3 for 6 with two doubles and four RBIs, providing the key hit in Salem's four-run fourth inning.
Defensively, Swihart threw out the only Winston-Salem runner who attempted to steal. He's now pegged a Carolina League-leading 39 percent (35 of 90) of would-be thieves this season.
MORE THAN A GLOVE: Sox shortstop Deven Marrero might be best known for his defense, but he's been a huge asset at the plate the past two games.
After delivering Salem's only multihit effort in Wednesday's win, Marrero reached base in each of his first four plate appearances Thursday. He finished 2 for 3 with three walks and three RBIs - his first multi-RBI game of the year. The one out he recorded was a line drive that required a diving grab by Dash right fielder Mark Haddow.
WHEN HERI MET SUCCESS: Sox starter Heri Quevedo continued his recent run of strong pitching, holding the Dash to three hits over six innings. The Dominican right-hander struck out seven and walked one, with the only run he allowed coming on a home run by Josh Richmond in the fifth.
In his last six outings (including five starts), Quevedo is 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA.
TEACH ME HOW TO GEDDY: Salem first baseman Matthew Gedman typically hits in the lower part of the lineup - he batted ninth Thursday - but he's no easy out.
Gedman reached base in all five plate appearances, collecting three hits and scoring three runs. The son of two-time major league all-star Rich Gedman has now hit safely in 17 of his past 18 games and is batting .382 (26 for 68) since July 8.
LOOSE ENDS: The start was delayed 36 minutes by rain. ... Stefan Welch homered for Salem in the sixth. ... Mookie Betts went 2 for 4 with an RBI double.
ON DECK: Fresh off being named the Carolina League pitcher of the week for the second week in a row, Salem RHP Mike Augliera (7-6, 4.06) takes the mound at 7:05 tonight against Winston-Salem RHP Mark Recchia (0-0), who will make his first Carolina League start after going 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA at low Class A Kannapolis.
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
THE ROANOKE TIMES
