Salem, Rain Sweep Potomac
Play resumed with the score Salem 6-0 over Potomac in the bottom of the fourth from a contest that was stopped yesterday because of rain. Salem scored all six runs in the first inning yesterday off of Nationals starter Adam Olbrychowski.
The Red Sox added two runs in the sixth on a Jackie Bradley Jr. RBI double and Brandon Jacobs sacrifice fly. They added one more in each of the seventh and eighth to win the completed first game 10-0.
Keith Couch (4-2) got the win as he tossed all five innings played today striking out two. Olbrychowski (1-4) took the loss failing to finish the first inning while giving up six earned runs.
Potomac's offense was anemic in the contest with just one batter reaching second base. The P-Nats totaled just three hits and five base runners with Michael Taylor reaching base three times.
In a scheduled seven inning game that started 35 minutes after the suspended game was completed, LHP Robbie Ray ran into trouble early. Sean Coyle hit a two-run homer and for the second time in as many games, Salem took a 2-0 lead over Potomac after two batters.
The Salem Sox barrage continued in the second inning. The first three Red Sox reached base in the inning loading the bags with a walk by Coyle. Travis Shaw cleared the bases with his first homer of the year: a Grand Slam over the right-center field fence to extend the lead to 6-0.
Ray's day ended tossing a one and two-thirds innings giving up seven hits, two homers and walking three. The short was the shortest outing of his career. He took his second loss in as many starts.
Trevor Holder came on in relief and again was excellent for the P-Nats tossing two and a third scoreless innings.
Justin Bloxom knocked in the first run of the series for Potomac with a double that scored Ricky Hague in the fourth to bring Potomac within 6-1 off of Salem starter RHP Brandon Workman.
Before the top of the fifth inning, the Salem Red Sox staff were about to bring the tarp onto the field when it was decided by the umpires and managers to instead leave the tarp off the field with rain coming down and try to make the game official.
In the fifth with two out and no on, Wade Moore reached on a strike out. Workman walked three straight Nationals -- his first three walks of the day -- with Moore scoring on a Hague bases loaded walk. Pete Ruiz came on in relief of Workman and struck out the tying run Bloxom before play was halted at 2:59 PM.
After a rain delay of nearly an hour, the game was called with the Red Sox defeating the Nationals 6-2.
While Workman worked four and two-thirds inning, Ruiz (3-1) got the win despite just facing one batter. Workman struck out eight batters including a stretch of seven in a row from the end of the first into the third inning.
Again the P-Nats offense struggled with Salem garnering just two hits.
Tomorrow the P-Nats attempt to take one from Salem before they head off for their first-ever trip to Carolina. RHP Matt Swynenberg (2-1, 3.77) gets the start for the P-Nats with the game set to begin at 7:05 PM. Potomac returns home Monday, May 14th for a seven-game home stand. Call us at 703-590-2311 for tickets.