CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Soaked 4-2 by Lynchburg Wednesday

Published on August 1, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA - Bobby Dalbec belted his league-leading 26th homer to tie the game in the sixth inning Wednesday night, but a leaky bullpen and leakier skies caused the Salem to fall 4-2 to the Lynchburg Hillcats in a rain-shortened six-inning game at Calvin Falwell Field.

The Sox (18-21, 50-57) dropped to seven games below .500 for the second time in a week, and went 0-6 with runners in scoring position to drop their second game in a row. Lynchburg (22-17, 51-55) kept pace with the division-leading Wilmington Blue Rocks, staying 3.5 games out of first place. Dalbec's homer tied him for the third-most ever by any Salem player in a single season, matching Jeff King's 1987 campaign for the Salem Buccaneers.

Lynchburg got the ball rolling in the bottom of the first inning against Salem starting pitcher Jake Thompson (ND), who gave up a leadoff triple to Jodd Carter. Mitch Longo singled through the right side, plating the leadoff man, and Thompson walked Trenton Brooks and Gavin Collins to load the bases. Thompson recovered to fan Austen Wade, but Jorma Rodriguez was able to bring in Mitch Longo on a fielder's choice, with Brooks retired at third on a force out. After Thompson walked Tyler Friis to load the bases again, he was yanked for reliever Algenis Martinez, who fanned Anthony Miller to end the frame with Lynchburg ahead 2-0.

The Sox drew nearer in the top of the second inning. Dalbec led off against Lynchburg starter Sam Hentges (ND), banging a triple off the wall in right-center field. With one out, Jake Romanski hit a bouncer to short that was good enough to bring in Dalbec on an RBI groundout to trim the lead to 2-1.

Salem drew level in the top of the sixth against Lynchburg reliever Leandro Linares (BS, 1; W, 4-0). With one out and the bases empty, Dalbec walloped a 2-1 fastball over the wall for a game-tying solo homer, knotting things up at 2-2.

In the bottom of the inning, new reliever Joan Martinez (L, 2-2) struck out Rodriguez for the first out, but walked Friis. The righty recovered to fan Miller, but Erlin Cerda clicked a grounder just inside the third-base line for an RBI double that plated Fries, and Carter rapped a double to left-center to score Cerda and give Lynchburg the 4-2 edge. With the persistent rain getting heavier, the umpires ordered the tarp onto the field before the start of the seventh, and the game was called some 30 minutes later.

Thompson took a no-decision, surrendering two runs on two hits and three walks while recording just two outs, one of them via strikeout. Algenis Martinez dazzled in 4.1 shutout innings of relief, whiffing five against two hits and one walk. Joan Martinez gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning, striking out two.

The Sox will try to avoid both the rain and a sweep Thursday night, with righty Tanner Houck taking the ball for the Sox against Lynchburg southpaw Anderson Polanco. First pitch from Calvin Falwell Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.

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Carolina League Stories from August 1, 2018


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