Salem routes Potomac 11-5 for first series win

POTOMAC, Virginia (April 24, 2019) - The Red Sox picked up their first series win of the season in style, smashing 15 hits, highlighted by a Garrett Benge bomb, to defeat the Nationals 11-5 Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium.
How it Happened
* Bryan Mata made his fourth start on the mound for Salem, working through 4 innings and fanning 5 Nationals.
* Potomac scored first in the bottom of the 2^nd inning with a sharp 2 RBI line drive to right field by Armond Upshaw. Cole Freeman followed up with an RBI grounder to left field to put the Nationals up 3-0.
* Salem answered in the top of the 3rd. Major League rehabber Marco Hernández started the scoring with an RBI single to center field. Pedro Castellanos hit his 3^rd double of 2019, driving in two more. A fourth run crossed the plate when Ryan Fitzgerald drilled a sharp ground ball to right field and upped the score 4-3 in favor of the Sox.
* Garrett Benge came up big in the top of the 4^th with his first homer of the season, a solo shot to center field to extend the Sox lead 5-3.
* In the bottom of the 4^th Potomac cut the tilt to a one-run deficit with an RBI single by Telmito Augustin. The Nationals still trailed 5-4.
* Joseph Monge continued to connect in tonight's ball game, knocking another single and run in the top of the 5^th to stretch Salem's lead 6-4.
* Devon Fisher finished his night after two innings of relief, allowing only one run and striking out four.
* The Nationals drew within 1 run of Salem again in the bottom of the frame when Anderson Franco rolled a ground ball RBI single, once more cutting the Sox' lead 6-5.
* In the top of the 6th, Red Sox bats exploded, batting around for lasting damage. Benge led off with a single and was advanced to third on a Rusconi double. An error by the P-Nats allowed Kervin Suarez to reach first safely and push Benge home. Nationals troubles continued when Grant Borne issued a wild pitch, scoring Rusconi. Jarren Duran and Marco Hernandez delivered back-to-back singles, Hernandez's knock pushing in the third run of the frame. Castellanos lined his second RBI double of the night and Ryan Fitgerald mirrored with his own RBI double for a final of 5 runs crossing the plate and a safe 11-5 lead.
* Eduard Bazardo shut the door on Potomac with three innings of hitless ball, striking out two for the save.

Standout Sox
* Devon Fisher: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (W, 1-2)
* Marco Hernandez: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2B
* Pedro Castellanos: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, R, 2B, BB 
* Garrett Benge: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
* Ryan Fitzgerald: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2B
* Eduard Bazardo: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K (S, 1)
* Jarren Duran: 3-for-5, 2 R

Noteworthy
* Devon Fisher racked up his 1^st win of the 2019 season after 2 innings of relief in which he limited one run and struck out 4.
* Major League rehabber Marco Hernandez had his first multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBI, and 3 runs. He is 4-for-10 in his time with Salem.
* Garrett Benge blasted his first round-tripper of the season off Major League rehabber Justin Miller.
* Ryan Fitzgerald collected his 7^th double of 2019, a team high and good for 1^st (tie) in the Carolina League.


What's Next
Salem Red Sox @ Potomac Nationals, Thursday, April 25, 2019. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM EST.
RHP Daniel Gonzalez vs. RHP Luis Reyes
Listen: SalemSox.com, TuneIn Radio, ESPN Blacksburg WKEX 1430 AM/94.1 FM, ESPN Roanoke WGMN 1240 AM/93.3 FM
Watch: MiLB.tv
The Salem Red Sox are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and call Haley Toyota Field in Salem, Virginia home. The team was founded in 1968 and purchased by Fenway Sports Management in December of 2007. For more information on the Salem Red Sox, please visit SalemRedSox.com or contact Melanie Newman at [email protected].