SALEM, VA (Thursday, July 12) - The Salem Red Sox got the tying and winning runs into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night, but fell just short of a second consecutive walk-off win, dropping a 6-5 decision to the Winston-Salem Dash at Haley Toyota Field.Salem
SALEM, VA (Thursday, July 12) - The Salem Red Sox got the tying and winning runs into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night, but fell just short of a second consecutive walk-off win, dropping a 6-5 decision to the Winston-Salem Dash at Haley Toyota Field.
Salem (12-9, 44-45) entered a three-way tie for first place in the Northern Division with the Lynchburg Hillcats and Wilmington Blue Rocks, and were forced to settle for a series split against the visitors. The Dash (14-7, 55-36) rallied from a four-run deficit with a five-run seventh inning to capsize the Sox.
Salem opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth against Dash starting pitcher John Parke (W, 2-1), who got the first two outs easily but gave up a double to Michael Osinski to extend the frame. Ryan Scott hammered a double of his own, scoring Osinski. Chris Madera earned a walk, and Jordan Procyshen lashed a double to left to score both runners and give the Sox a 3-0 lead. Salem added another in the bottom of the fifth, as Tyler Hill led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout by Brett Netzer, and scored on Roldani Baldwin's sacrifice fly to run the Salem advantage to 4-0.
The Dash scraped a run back in the top of the sixth. Luis González bunted his way aboard with one out, and made it to third on a wild pitch by Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (L, 4-11) that coincided with a stolen base attempt. Laz Rivera brought Gonzalez in on a sacrifice fly to right, trimming the lead to 4-1.
Winston-Salem stormed ahead in the top of the seventh frame. Mitch Roman led off the inning with a single, Gavin Sheets walked, and Yermin Mercedes hit an infield single to load the bases. Ti'Quan Forbes singled into left to score Roman and chase Houck from the game. New reliever Jared Oliver (BS, 2) fanned Nate Nolan for the first out, but Deiner Lopez made a meal of Yeyson Yrizarri's bouncer to short, letting Sheets score and keeping the bases full. Oliver lost the zone after that, walking Gonzalez to score Roman, plunking Rivera to bring in Forbes, and walking Roman with two out to plate Yrizarri. Joan Martinez entered and fanned Sheets to quell the bleeding, but the damage had been done, and the Red Sox trailed 6-4.
Salem edged closer in the bottom of the eighth. Dash reliever Connor Walsh (H, 1) plunked Roldani Baldwin to open the frame, and Baldwin made it to second on a one-out groundout to the right side by Osinski. Scott earned a walk and was pulled for pinch runner Trenton Kemp, and Madera sliced a single through the middle to score Baldwin while Scott reached second. Pinch hitter C.J. Chatham walked to load the bases, but Lopez struck out to end the frame. Baldwin reached third and Dalbec made it to second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Danny Dopico (S, 4) struck out Osinski to end the game.
Houck was touched up for five runs on five hits and two walks in six innings, fanning four. Oliver gave up an unearned run on two walks and a hit batter while whiffing two hitters for his only outs recorded. Joan Martinez dealt 1.1 perfect frames of relief with one strikeout. Smith allowed one hit and one walk in a scoreless inning.
The Sox will hit the road for an eight-game, nine-day away swing Friday, starting with four games at the Blue Rocks. Southpaw Darwinzon Hernandez will make the start for Salem Friday night against Wilmington righty Ofreidy Gomez. First pitch at Frawley Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.
