When the Red Sox got squeezed out of the Carolina League atfer the 2006 season - when the Wilmington Blue Rocks booted them - they had to move their advanced Class A team across the country to windblown Lancaster, Calif.

But the Red Sox figured out a way to get back into the Carolina League - they bought a team.

Fenway Sports Group, one of the Boston Red Sox business ventures,, announced that it has purchased controlling interest in the Salem (Va.) Avalanche baseball team.

Salem is currently an affiliate of the Houston Astros, but that contract is up after 2008 season - the same time when Boston's affiliate agreement is up with Lancaster.

Lancaster provided challenges because of the cross-country travel, as well as the conditions that turned pop flies into home runs (ERA's and batting stats zoomed).

The Red Sox had to leave Wilmington, Del. because the franchise was upset that Boston did not try to do more to win at the Class A level.

Wilmington was a playoff team in 2006, but had promoted prospects like outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and pitchers Tommy Hottovy and Andrew Dobies to Portland late in the season (Wilmington was eliminated in the playoffs, while Portland won the Eastern League championship).

The Salem franchise is well-located (near lower Class A Greenville, S.C.) and at least in the same time zone as Portland.

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