Sox Whitewashed by Wood Ducks 6-0 Saturday

Crawford Fans Eight in Hard-Luck Loss

Kutter Crawford turned in a fine outing in his High-A debut but took the loss. (Christina Carrillo / Salem Red Sox)

By Ben Gellman

August 18, 2018

SALEM, VA (Saturday, August 18) - A day after they blanked the visitors for a shutout victory, the Salem Red Sox had the tables turned on them as they were held to just five hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Down East Wood Ducks at Haley Toyota Field.The

SALEM, VA (Saturday, August 18) - A day after they blanked the visitors for a shutout victory, the Salem Red Sox had the tables turned on them as they were held to just five hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Down East Wood Ducks at Haley Toyota Field.
The Red Sox (26-38, 58-64) only recorded one hit after the fifth inning, and failed to keep pace down the stretch in the race for the North Division's second playoff spot. Down East (18-37, 53-72) avoided taking a third consecutive loss, but found themselves eliminated from playoff contention due to a win by the Buies Creek Astros.

Neither team scored in the first five innings, as Salem starter Kutter Crawford (L, 1-2) and Down East moundsman Jason Bahr (W, 1-3) held both offenses in check. The Wood Ducks broke through in the top of the sixth, as Leody Taveras tripled to lead off the inning. Eric Jenkins struck out, but Anderson Tejeda singled through the middle to plate Taveras, and Andretty Cordero hit a twisting fly to left for a double, putting runners at second and third. The Sox pulled Crawford for reliever Yankory Pimentel, who surrendered a single to Chuck Leblanc that plated both runners and ran the Down East lead to 3-0.
The Wood Ducks poured it on in the seventh and eighth innings. Brendon Davis led off the seventh with a double, and moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Melvin Novoa before Taveras singled him home for another run.
Crawford surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings, whiffing eight. Pimentel was touched up for two runs on six hits and a walk over his two innings of relief, fanning one. Feltman gave up just two hits in a career-long 1.2 innings of relief.
The Sox will take aim at a rubber-match win Sunday afternoon, as righty Kevin McAvoy will answer the bell for Salem against Down East southpaw Tyler Thomas. First pitch from Haley Toyota Field is scheduled for 4:05 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 3:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.