Salem Ends Losing Streak, Downs Potomac 8-5

Salem, VA (August 16, 2012) - Returning home was just what the Red Sox needed to get back on track. Having Keith Couch on the mound didn't hurt either.

Salem turned four double plays in the first four innings as Couch recorded 16 outs on ground balls, and the Red Sox broke it open with a four-run fourth in Thursday's 8-5 victory over Potomac at LewisGale Field. Couch scattered seven singles, facing just three more than the minimum, and departed with an 8-1 lead after eight innings. His four strikeouts gave him 100 on the season, and he did not walk anybody while improving his record to 9-9. He needed only 76 pitches to complete eight frames.

The Sox knocked around Nationals starter Matt Grace, chasing him after scoring six times on eight hits in the first five innings. Adalberto Ibarra's sac fly in the second scored Shannon Wilkerson to give Salem a 1-0 lead. In the third, Zach Gentile scurried home on Heiker Meneses' tapper to the mound and the Sox held a 2-0 edge. But half of Salem's offensive output came with two outs in the fourth.

With Drew Hedman at third base, Carson Blair ripped a double to the warning track in center to give the Sox a 3-0 lead. Next, Gentile crushed another double down the right field line and it was 4-0. Following a throwing error by Nationals third baseman Matt Scole on Matt Marquis' grounder, Felix Sanchez drove a two-run double into the gap to make it 6-0. Salem added single runs in the sixth and seventh frames on Meneses' RBI double and Sanchez' sac fly.

While the Sox were outhit 13-10, Salem had all six of the game's extra base hits in the first eight innings. With six doubles, the Red Sox need just 16 more two-baggers in the final 17 games of the season to match the franchise record of 295 doubles in a season.

In the ninth, Potomac rallied for four runs against Marco Duarte, who was returning to the mound for the first time since June 21. Kevin Keyes clocked a three-run homer for the Nationals and the tying run came to the plate with two outs, but Andrew Jones emerged to earn his fourth save, inducing J.P. Ramirez' game-ending fielder's choice.

Sanchez led the Red Sox with two hits and three RBI, while Meneses with 2-for-5 and drove in a pair.

Salem and Potomac reunite on Friday night with Michael McCarthy set to make his LewisGale Field debut against Alex Meyer. First pitch is slated for 7:05.