Sox Double Up Blue Rocks 6-3 Saturday

SALEM, VA (Saturday, June 24, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox bounced back from a blown save Saturday night to score three runs in the seventh and top the Wilmington Blue Rocks 6-3 in front of 4,794 fans at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
The Sox (2-1, 42-30) went 4-11 with runners in scoring position, and smacked five extra-base hits in the victory. Wilmington (1-2, 40-33) tied the game in the late innings but couldn't keep pace with the Sox in the end. Salem has a chance at the series victory in Sunday's matinee between the clubs.

Wilmington began the scoring in the top of the fourth against Sox starter Matthew Kent (ND). Wander Franco led off with a double, but was caught in a rundown between second and third on a grounder by Anderson Miller; Franco was tagged out by Jose Sermo while Miller made it to first on the fielder's choice. Chase Vallot drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one away, Chris DeVito singled Miller home, and Vallot zipped to third. Nathan Esposito then brought Vallot in on a fielder's choice, making it a 2-0 lead for the visitors.
Salem evened things up in the bottom of the fifth against Wilmington starting pitcher Cristian Castillo (ND). Tate Matheny reached on an infield single with one away, and moved to second on a groundout by Jeremy Rivera. Austin Rei pummeled a double to center to score Matheny, and came home on a double by Jose Sermo to tie the game at 2-2.
The teams traded solo homers, as Jordan Betts blasted a tater in the bottom of the sixth off Castillo to take the lead, only to see Roman Collins lead off the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot off new reliever Jordan Weems (BS, 1; W, 6-2) to even things back up at 3-3.
Salem retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh against Wilmington reliever Franco Terrero (L, 1-4). Rivera earned a one-out walk, and scooted to third on a double by Rei. The Blue Rocks intentionally walked Sermo, but Mike Meyers earned a bases-loaded walk to put the Sox ahead, and Jhon Nunez laced a two-run single to center, giving Salem the 6-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Kent took a no-decision, surrendering two runs on five hits and three walks while fanning five in six innings. Weems got the win with one run allowed on one hit and one walk in two innings; he struck out three. Trevor Kelley (S, 6) slammed the door with a perfect ninth, notching one strikeout en route to the save.
The Sox will aim for a series victory Sunday afternoon, with righty Mike Shawaryn getting the ball for Salem against Wilmington's All-Star righty A.J. Puckett. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman has the call on the Red Sox Radio Network starting at 12:45 p.m.