SALEM, VA (Sunday, August 13, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox snagged a critical victory Sunday afternoon, topping the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-2 at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.The Sox (27-23, 67-52) earned a series win over the Blue Rocks and broke even on their six-game homestand, going
SALEM, VA (Sunday, August 13, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox snagged a critical victory Sunday afternoon, topping the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-2 at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
The Sox (27-23, 67-52) earned a series win over the Blue Rocks and broke even on their six-game homestand, going 3-3 against Wilmington and the Buies Creek Astros. Wilmington (23-26, 62-57) didn't score until the eighth inning, and failed to score in the ninth despite getting the tying run to the plate. The season series between Salem and Wilmington has favored the home side, as Salem is 8-2 against Wilmington at Haley Toyota Field but 4-10 at Frawley Stadium.
Salem got the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the third against Wilmington starter Cristian Castillo, who plunked Nick Lovullo to start the inning. Mike Meyers drew a walk, and Jeremy Rivera dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third base. Conrad Gregor hit a grounder to second for the second out, but Lovullo was able to race home and make it a 1-0 lead for Salem.
The Sox blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tate Matheny drew a leadoff walk and stole second, advancing to third on a catching error by second baseman John Brontsema. Jhon Nunez went down looking for the first out, but Castillo hit Austin Rei with a pitch, and Victor Acosta singled to score Matheny and move Rei to second base. The Red Sox pulled off a double steal to move the runners to second and third, and Lovullo hit a bouncer to third. Wander Franco threw home, and Rei was tagged out, leaving runners at the corners with two away. Meyers hit a grounder to third that got past Franco for an error, scoring Acosta and letting Lovullo move up to second. Rivera then lined a single into center field to bring Lovullo home while Meyers zipped to third base on a fielding error by center fielder Nick Heath. Gregor singled to right to score Meyers, running the lead to 5-0.
Wilmington made some late noise in the top of the eighth against reliever Austin Glorius, who walked Franco with one away. Brandon Downes took advantage, smashing a two-run homer to left field to cut Salem's lead to 5-2. Glorius also walked Brontsema to begin the ninth, but relief arm Daniel McGrath (S, 3) picked off Brontsema for the first out. A walk put Colton Frabasilio aboard, and Heath reached base on a throwing error by Sermo at third base that moved Frabasilio to third. With two outs, McGrath notched another pickoff, sniping Heath for the final out of the game.
Hart fired seven shutout innings despite three hits and a career-worst five walks, striking out six and nabbing the win. Glorius surrendered two runs on a hit and two walks in one inning, fanning one. McGrath worked around a walk in one inning to earn his third save.
The Sox will open a seven-game road swing Monday against the Potomac Nationals. Salem will have 19-year-old righty Roniel Raudes on the hill against rehabbing Nationals pitcher and National League All-Star Stephen Strasburg. First pitch from Pfitzner Stadium is at 7:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman's pregame show starts at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN Roanoke, ESPN Blacksburg, and on the Red Sox Radio Network online.
