CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Salem Clobbered 8-3 by Mudcats Thursday

Published on June 28, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


SALEM, VA - The Salem Red Sox fell behind early on and never recovered, taking a loss for the third straight night as they dropped an 8-3 decision to the Carolina Mudcats at Haley Toyota Field.

The Red Sox (3-4, 35-40) continued to scuffle in run-scoring situations, going 1-10 in such opportunities to go to 4-33 on the series. The Mudcats (5-2, 39-38) jumped ahead due to Red Sox miscues and built an advantage that couldn't be overcome in the ballgame. The Sox got a strong performance out of Jerry Downs, who went 3-3 after entering for Santiago Espinal following a trade that sent Salem's All-Star shortstop to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Mudcats took the early lead in the top of the second inning against Salem starter Darwinzon Hernandez (L, 3-5), who walked Weston Wilson with one away. Dustin Houle flew out to right, but with a 3-2 count against Pat McInerney, Hernandez fired an errant pickoff attempt that allowed Wilson to reach third. Hernandez missed with the next pitch to walk McInerney, putting runners on the corners. Ryan Aguilar hit a swinging bunt in front of home plate that Hernandez fielded, but his throw to first was off-target, allowing both McInerney and Wilson to score on the error and put the Mudcats in front 2-0.

Carolina broke the game wide open in the top of the fifth inning. Hernandez fanned Aguilar and Devin Hairston to start the frame, but walked Joantgel Segovia and gave up a single to Dallas Carroll that put runners at first and second. Demi Orimoloye singled through the middle to plate Segovia and run Carroll to third base. With Hernandez's pitch count already over 100, the Red Sox turned to reliever Taylor Ahearn, but Tucker Neuhaus belted a three-run dinger to center to stretch the advantage to 6-0.

The Sox broke through in the bottom of the frame against Mudcats starting pitcher Alec Bettinger (W, 1-1), as Jordan Procyshen clipped a one-out single to center. After Carlos Tovar flew out, Downs bashed a triple to left-center field, scoring Procyshen and trimming the margin to 6-1.

Salem edged closer in the bottom of the seventh against Carolina reliever Phil Bickford. With one out, Chris Madera hammered a double to left field before moving to third base on a wild pitch. Procyshen bounced out to first, but Madera came home to score and make it a 6-2 game. Tovar reached on an error by Bickford, Downs singled, and Brett Netzer worked a walk to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. However, reliever Nattino Diplan (S, 3) entered and fanned C.J. Chatham to end the frame.

The Mudcats earned a run back in the top of the eighth, as reliever Kevin McAvoy hit leadoff man Orimoloye with a pitch and walked Neuhaus. The Mudcats executed a double steal to put runners at second and third, and a wild pitch by McAvoy plated Orimoloye to run the lead to 7-2. Aguilar led off the ninth inning with a solo homer off new reliever Joan Martinez, extending the lead to 8-2.

The Sox were able to scratch a run back in the bottom of the ninth. Tovar reached with one out on a throwing error by Wilson, and went to second on defensive indifference.Downs came through with another RBI, singling through the right side to score Tovar and cut the lead down to 8-3. However, Netzer grounded out and Chatham struck out to end the game.

Hernandez allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings, whiffing eight batters and committing two errors. Ahearn allowed a run on one hit and struck out two batters in 1.1 innings. McAvoy surrendered one run on a walk and fanned three over two frames. Martinez gave up a run on four hits in his lone inning of action.

The Sox will try to avoid a sweep Friday night, with right-hander Daniel Gonzalez making the start for Salem against Carolina righty Victor Diaz. First pitch at Haley Toyota Field 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.

Check out the Salem Red Sox Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from June 28, 2018


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