Red Sox roll Blue Rocks 8-3

SALEM, Virginia (September 4, 2019) - The Red Sox blasted 17 hits Wednesday night at Haley Toyota Field to drop the Wilmington Blue Rocks 8-3 in Game One of the Carolina League North Division Championship.

How it Happened
Salem attacked in the first inning. Garrett Benge led-off with a double, Ryan Fitzgerald singled to place runners at the corners and Devlin Granberg cleared the bases with a blast to grab a 3-0 lead. Keith Curcio tripled and scored on a double by Kole Cottam. The Sox batted around by the inning's close to advance 4-0.
Curcio homered in the second inning and the Sox climbed ahead 5-0.
* Granberg singled in fourth inning and scored on a deep single from Curcio for a 6-0 advantage.
* Wilmington chipped away to a 6-3 difference with RBI doubles from MJ Melendez, Ricky Aracena and Nick Pratto across the fifth and sixth innings.
* Enmanuel DeJesus exited after 5.2 innings, allowing three runs with five strikeouts.
* Grant Williams reached safely in the sixth on an error when Garrett Benge destroyed Salem's third home run to push back to an 8-3 difference.
* Dylan Thompson, Yoan Aybar and Joan Martinez shut down the final 3.1 innings of no-hit ball to shut the door.
Standout Sox
* Keith Curcio: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR, 3B
* Garrett Benge: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2 2B
* Devlin Granberg: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR
* Kole Cottam: 3-for-5, RBI, 2 2B
* Enmanuel DeJesus: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K - W (1-0)

Noteworthy
* The three home runs tie the season team record. Salem hit three against Fayetteville 7/1.
* The 17 hits is a new franchise record for a playoff game, the previous was 11.
* The nine extra-base hits is a new franchise playoff record, previously set at six.
* Garrett Benge's three extra-base hits is a new individual franchise playoff record.
* Devlin Granberg's home run was his first in Salem uniform.
* Keith Curcio finished a double shy of the cycle.
What's Next
Salem Red Sox vs Wilmington Blue Rocks, September 5, 2019. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM EST.
RHP Thaddeus Ward vs RHP Jonathan Bowlan
Listen: SalemSox.com, TuneIn Radio, ESPN Blacksburg WKEX 1430 AM/94.1 FM, 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].