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Sox Rebuff Blue Rocks 7-3 in Game 2 Sunday

Salem Sweep Twinbill, Series from Wilmington
Bobby Dalbec kicked off Salem's scoring with his league-best 18th homer. (Christina Carrillo / Salem Red Sox)
May 20, 2018

SALEM, VA (Sunday, May 20) - Bobby Dalbec delivered a critical bases-loaded double with his team trailing, putting the Salem Red Sox on his back to help deliver a 7-3 victory in the nightcap of their Sunday doubleheader against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Haley Toyota Field.Salem (20-20) clawed their

SALEM, VA (Sunday, May 20) - Bobby Dalbec delivered a critical bases-loaded double with his team trailing, putting the Salem Red Sox on his back to help deliver a 7-3 victory in the nightcap of their Sunday doubleheader against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Haley Toyota Field.
Salem (20-20) clawed their way back to .500 following an eight-game skid and four consecutive rainouts, securing a sweep of the doubleheader and the series from the visitors. Wilmington (17-25) opened up a three-run lead in the fourth inning, but squandered it and stayed winless against the Sox through the first six games between the clubs in 2018. 

Wilmington struck first in the top of the fourth against Salem starting pitcher Daniel Gonzalez (ND), who walked leadoff man Chris DeVito before a sacrifice bunt moved DeVito to second. Gonzalez got Gabriel Cancel to pop out, but walked Vance Vizcaino and allowed an RBI single to Oliver Nunez. Kort Peterson doubled to right to score the runners and give Wilmington a 3-0 lead.
Salem cut into that lead in the bottom of the inning against Wilmington starter Daniel Tillo (L, 0-1). With Jerry Downs at first and one out, Bobby Dalbec battered a double to right-center to put runners at second and third. Roldani Baldwin then lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Downs and trim the lead to 3-1.
The Sox surged ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Chris Madera and Santiago Espinal each singled to start the inning before Brett Netzer bunted them to second and third. Tillo hit C.J. Chatham with a pitch, loading the bases with one away. Jerry Downs struck out looking, but Dalbec smoked a double off the wall in left, clearing the bases and giving the Sox a 4-3 lead.
Salem earned some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Matt Wynne, who plunked Jordan Wren with one out and walked Madera to put runners at first and second. Espinal singled to left to plate Wren, and Madera zipped to third when Vizcaino bobbled the ball. Netzer kept the good times going, ripping a two-run double to right-center to score Madera and Espinal for the final 7-3 lead.
Gonzalez tossed four innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while whiffing six. Jared Oliver (W, 2-1) tossed three no-hit innings of relief to earn the win, fanning two while walking three.
The Sox will look to carry their momentum with them on the road as they kick off an eight-game road swing with a four-game set at the Frederick Keys. Righty Tanner Houck will take the ball for Salem against Wilmington right-hander Ofelky Peralta. First pitch from Harry Grove Stadium is at 7:00 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.