Salem Takes the Series in Walk-Off Win

SALEM, Va. – A beautiful Mother’s Day it was, at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Red Sox walked it off in game six against the Columbia Fireflies to take the series, four games to two in the come from behind win.

The scoring started early for both teams as Columbia scored a run in the top of the first on a double steal, with Daniel Vazqeuz crossing home plate, who was aboard on a one-out double.

Salem would respond with two runs of their own in the home half of the first inning. Roman Anthony started his day strong with a lead-off single. Luis Ravelo followed it up with a walk before Allan Castro singled to put runners on the corners. Roman Anthony was thrown out at home plate for the first out. Luis Ravelo scored on a throwing error from Omar Hernandez from behind home plate in his unsuccessful attempt to catch Allan Castro stealing second. Lyonell James gave Salem the 2-1 lead with an RBI double, scoring Castro.

Holding Columbia scoreless in the top of the second, the Red Sox added on some more with another run in the bottom of the second. Roman Anthony scored Albert Feliz on a sacrifice fly to right field, who was aboard via a leadoff walk. Juan Montero also recorded a base hit in the inning, but was stranded at second.

After a scoreless third for both teams, Columbia roared back with a hat-trick in the fourth, scoring three runs. Salem responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to re-tie the game at four on an RBI single off the barrel of Roman Anthony, scoring Karson Simas.

Columbia would score a run in each of the next four consecutive innings. A run in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. The Red Sox had one of their strongest offensive innings of the season in the fifth, scoring two runs. Allan Castro led off with a solo home-run over the right field wall to tie the game at five. It marked his second homer of the season. After two quick outs, Yorberto Mejicano gave the Red Sox the 6-5 lead, crushing a no-doubter over the left field fence for his first home run of the season. Albert Feliz would single and so would Juan Montero, but the party came to an end as Feliz was thrown out at third. It was the first time all year, the Red Sox homered twice in the same inning.

After going scoreless in the sixth and seventh, Salem added a run in the eight to stay in it off an RBI single from Roman Anthony, scoring Simas for the second time.

It was an 8-7 lead for the Fireflies heading to the bottom of the ninth as they looked for the series split and their second straight win. Salem said not so fast. Allan Castro got to first on a dropped third strike and pinch-hitting Juan Chacon worked a walk. Castro stole third to put runners on the corners before Ahbram Liendo tied the game with a fielder's choice that scored Castro and saw Chacon forced out at second. Liendo would steal both second and third to put the winning run 90 feet away. Yorberto Mejicano walked, setting the table for Albert Feliz, who drove a base hit into left to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth. It was Salem’s second walk-off of the series and their third of the season. 9-8, the final.

Roman Anthony went three for four with three RBI’s with his family in attendance on Mother’s Day. Allan Castro had a multi-hit day, going two for five with a home run and an RBI. Albert Feliz was the hero, going two for four with the crucial RBI on the day and in just his fourth game for Salem, Juan Montero played well going two for four . Yorberto Mejicano’s home run extended his hit streak to six games in a row.

Salem heads on the road for a six game series with the Hillcats in Lynchburg starting on Tuesday before returning home the following week for a series with Fredricksburg in Salem.

Location: Salem Memorial Ballpark

First Pitch: 3:07 p.m.

Time of Game: 2:48