SALEM, VA (May 20, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox benefited from two homers by Michael Chavis, four hits from Trenton Kemp and a terrific start by Matthew Kent as they battered the Myrtle Beach 9-2 Saturday night at Haley Toyota Field.The Red Sox (27-15) broke the game wide open
SALEM, VA (May 20, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox benefited from two homers by Michael Chavis, four hits from Trenton Kemp and a terrific start by Matthew Kent as they battered the Myrtle Beach 9-2 Saturday night at Haley Toyota Field.
The Red Sox (27-15) broke the game wide open in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring eight of their nine runs in those two frames. The Pelicans (22-21) held the lead going into the bottom of the sixth, but their bullpen imploded for the second straight night to cost them the game. Chavis' two homers mark his second multi-homer game of the year.
Myrtle Beach began the scoring in the top of the first against Kent (W, 3-2). Trent Giambrone singled to lead off the game, and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Kent before P.J. Higgins drew a walk. A groundout back to the mound by Daniel Spingola advanced the runners to second and third, and Giambrone came home to score on a high chopper to third by Eloy Jiménez to put Myrtle Beach ahead 1-0.
Salem evened things up in the bottom of the fourth against Pelicans starting pitcher Ryan Kellogg. Chavis lifted a fly to deep right field for a solo homer, his ninth of the season, and tied the score at 1-1. However, the Pelicans jumped back in front in the top of the sixth, as Jimenez jumped all over a Kent fastball and sent it screaming over the left field wall for a solo homer, claiming a 2-1 lead for Myrtle Beach.
The Sox answered nearly immediately in the bottom of the sixth against new Myrtle Beach reliever Casey Bloomquist (L, 2-4). With one out, Chavis pounded a solo homer to left, his second of the game and 10th of the season, and evened the score at 2-2. With two outs, Trenton Kemp singled, and Mike Meyers followed suit to put runners at first and second. Bloomquist tossed a wild pitch, allowing the runners to make it to second and third, and Jordan Betts worked a walk to load the bases. Jhon Nunez hit a chopper up the middle, and beat out the throw from Giambrone at shortstop. Kemp was already home, and Sox manager Joe Oliver had waved Meyers around, and he slid in just ahead of the throw from first to make it a 4-2 lead for the Sox.
Salem's lead ballooned in the bottom of the seventh inning. Steven Reveles drew a leadoff walk, and Chavis doubled him home for a run. Josh Ockimey sliced a single to left, scoring Chavis, and moved to third on Kemp's double. That would be the end for Bloomquist, as the Pelicans brought in reliever Kyle Miller. Meyers welcomed him rudely with an RBI single to score Ockimey, as Kemp moved up to third. Meyers pilfered second base, and Nunez brought Kemp home on a one-out groundout to second base. Nick Lovullo drew a walk, and Bryan Hudson cracked a two-out single to left to score Meyers as the Sox batted around, leaving the inning with their final 9-2 advantage.
Kent earned the win with seven strong frames, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while whiffing five. Adam Lau tossed two shutout innings of relief, posting three strikeouts against a hit and a walk.
The Sox will look for their fourth straight win Sunday afternoon, with righty Shaun Anderson making the start for Salem against Pelicans righty Adbert Azolay. First pitch at Haley Toyota Field is set for 1:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman's pregame show starts at 12:45 on the Red Sox Radio Network.
The Carolina League All-Star Game returns to Salem on Tuesday, June 20 at Haley Toyota Field. As part of a celebration of 50 years of Carolina League baseball in the Roanoke Valley, the Red Sox will host a skills competition on Monday, June 19. The skills competition will take place at historic Kiwanis Field, the original home of Carolina League baseball in Salem. All 2017 Salem Red Sox season ticket holders will have tickets to the skills competition and the All-Star Classic at Haley Toyota Field included in their ticket package.
