CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Sox Downed 6-5 by Dash Friday

Published on July 27, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


SALEM, VA - The Salem Red Sox nearly made it all the way back from a 5-0 deficit, but their ninth-inning rally came up short for the second straight night as they fell 6-5 to the Winston-Salem Dash at Haley Toyota Field.

The Sox (16-19, 48-55) dropped their fourth consecutive game and fell to a season-worst seven games below .500, getting the tying and winning runs aboard in the eighth and ninth innings but failing to convert. Winston-Salem (22-13, 63-42) rode a four-run first inning to victory, bouncing back after a three-game sweep by the Frederick Keys. Bobby Dalbec hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning for his 25th of the season and in a Red Sox uniform, passing Brandon Jacobs (24) for the Red Sox-era career record. It was also his 13th homer at Haley Toyota Field, passing Michael Chavis' 12 for the all-time record at the stadium.

The Dash got going right away, knocking around Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Thompson (L, 4-10) in the top of the first. Luis Gonzalez cracked a leadoff double, and Thompson plunked Laz Rivera before Blake Rutherford singled to load the bases. Thompson fired a wild pitch, scoring Gonzalez and moving the runners to second and third, and another fastball from Thompson grazed Mercedes to load the bases back up. Thompson recovered to fan Gavin Sheets and Ti'Quan Forbes, but J.J. Muno singled home Rivera and Rutherford, and Yeyson Yrizarri knocked in Mercedes with a single of his own to run the lead to 4-0.

Winston-Salem tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning. Muno led off with a single and Yrizarri followed with one of his own to put runners at first and second. After Zach Remillard fanned, the baserunners executed a double steal to reach second and third, and Gonzalez plated Muno with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0 in favor of the visitors.

After starter Lincoln Henzman stifled the Sox through the first three frames, reliever Drew Hasler (W, 4-2) did the same in the fourth and fifth innings. However, with two outs in the sixth, Brett Netzer and C.J. Chatham cracked consecutive singles, and Dalbec mashed his towering, history-making tater over the wall in left. The three-run dinger trimmed the margin to 5-3. The Dash earned a run back in the top of the seventh, as Gonzalez rudely welcomed Sox reliever Joan Martinez with a solo homer to right to make it a 6-3 game.

Salem edged closer in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Cameron Seitzer, who plunked Jerry Downs to start the inning before a passed ball by Mercedes moved Downs to second. Michael Osinski singled, putting runners at the corners, and a sacrifice fly by Victor Acosta plated Downs. Nick Sciortino rapped a single that sent Osinski hustling to third base, and Tyler Hill bounced into an RBI fielder's choice that scored Osinski and cut the Dash's lead to 6-5.

In the eighth inning, Salem got runners at first and second against reliever Connor Walsh (S, 2) with two outs, but Osinski fanned to end the threat. In the bottom of the ninth, Acosta led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout back to the mound by Sciortino. Hill hit a swinging bunt to the left side that he beat out for a single, with Acosta advancing to third on the play. However, Netzer fanned, recording the second out. With Chatham at the plate, Walsh threw a slider in the dirt that gave Mercedes a bit of trouble, and Hill broke for second. However, Mercedes recovered to make a fantastic throw to second base, sniping Hill for the third out and ending the game.

Thompson was roughed up for five runs on seven hits in six innings, fanning a career-best eight batters. Martinez surrendered one run on two hits while whiffing four in three innings of relief.

The Sox will look to snap their four-game skid Saturday night, with righty Tanner Houck toeing the slab for Salem against Dash southpaw John Parke. First pitch from Haley Toyota Field is scheduled for 6:05 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 5:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.

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Carolina League Stories from July 27, 2018


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