Sox Swept with 3-2 Loss to Dash in Nightcap

SALEM, VA (Sunday, September 3, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox fell flat in their doubleheader's nightcap Sunday afternoon, losing 3-2 in eight innings to the Winston-Salem Dash at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
The Sox (33-36, 72-64) lost for the sixth time in their last seven games, having already fallen out of the running for the Mills Cup playoffs with their first loss of the day. Winston-Salem (31-38, 55-84) trailed until the sixth inning, but didn't allow Salem to score after the first inning.

Salem opened the scoring in the bottom of the first against Dash starting pitcher Ian Clarkin (ND), who walked leadoff man Justin Pacchioli before allowing Bryan Hudson to reach first on an errant throw. Conrad Gregor lined a single to left, scoring Pacchioli and advancing Hudson to second. The Sox pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third, and Jose Sermo plated Hudson on a sacrifice fly to give the Sox a 2-0 lead.
Winston-Salem got on the board in the top of the third against Salem starter Logan Boyd (ND), as Toby Thomas lined a double to right with one out. Boyd fanned Louis Silverio, but Seby Zavala dropped a single into right, scoring Thomas and trimming the lead to 2-1.
The Dash drew level in the top of the sixth inning. Matt Rose led off with a double, and scooted to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Conlan. Boyd walked Jeff Gelalich to put runners at the corners before manager Joe Oliver pulled Boyd for reliever Adam Lau (BS, 3; L, 4-7). The first pitch from Lau was wild, and Rose raced home for the tying run. 
In the top of the eighth, Lau gave up a leadoff single to Zavala, and threw wildly on an attempt to retire Zavala on Rose's sacrifice bunt attempt, with the error leaving runners at first and second. Conlan got aboard on a bunt single to load the bases, and Lau walked Gelalich to bring home Zavala with the go-ahead run. Ian Hamilton (W, 3-3) set down the side in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Boyd took a no-decision, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks against five whiffs in six innings. Lau surrendered an unearned run on three hits and a walk in 2.2 innings, striking out one.
Salem will close out the 2017 campaign Monday afternoon against Winston-Salem, with lefty Kyle Hart getting the ball for the Sox against Dash righty Jimmy Lambert. First pitch from Haley Toyota Field is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman's pregame show begins at 12:45 p.m. on the Red Sox Radio Network.