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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Sox Drop 9-5 Decision to Dash Thursday

April 19, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Salem Red Sox couldn't make the most of their opportunities and came out on the losing side of a sloppy game Thursday night, falling 9-5 to the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T Ballpark.

The Sox (8-7) once again had to rely on their bullpen, as their starting pitcher lasted only 1.2 innings before being pulled; the bullpen has accounted for 29.2 of the last 43 innings thrown by the Sox. Winston-Salem (9-6) got a convincing win despite making four errors, throwing three wild pitches and walking nine batters, largely because Salem went just 1-14 with runners in scoring position. Red Sox first baseman Jerry Downs was able to single in the seventh inning to extend his on-base streak to 26 games, dating back to August 18, 2017.

The Dash took the early lead in the bottom of the first against Salem starter Tanner Houck (L, 0-2), who walked leadoff man Luis Alexander Basabe and leet the runner move to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Micker Adolfo rocked a Houck fastball to center for a two-run homer, putting the home team ahead 2-0.

The lead expanded greatly in the bottom of the second. Yermin Mercedes led off for the Dash, and reached second when third baseman Bobby Dalbec's throw to first skipped past Downs and up into the stands. After Yeyson Yrizarri grounded out to third, Houck lost his command, walking Ti'Quan Forbes and Mitch Roman to load the bases with one away. He then walked Basabe again, bringing Mercedes in from third base. Houck was able to induce a shallow fly out from Alex Call, but gave up a two-run single to Blake Rutherford to run the lead to 6-0.

Salem got on the board in the top of the fourth against Winston-Salem starting pitcher Ricardo Pinto (W, 1-0). Dalbec hit a blooper that evaded the glove of Roman at second, and Dalbec safely reached second base to start the inning. Downs grounded out to Sheets at first, and Jhon Nunez reached first on umpire's interference when his hard ground ball banged off the shin of field umpire Matthew Brown. With runners at the corners and one away, Ryan Scott hit a soft grounder to the right that Pinto scooped up, tagging Scott out. However, Dalbec was able to cross the plate, making it a 6-1 ballgame.

The Dash got that run back in the bottom of the inning against Salem reliever Jared Oliver, who gave up a walk with one out to Call before throwing a wild pitch that moved Call to second. Rutherford took advantage, singling home the runner to give Winston-Salem a 7-1 lead.

Salem edged closer in the top of the sixth inning against Winston-Salem reliever Luis Martinez, who walked Nunez with one out. Scott slashed a triple up the right field line, plating Nunez. Martinez plunked Kyri Washington, and then uncorked a wild pitch, sending Washington to second and Scott across the plate to trim the margin to 7-3.

The Dash added runs in the sixth and seventh, as Rutherford led off the sixth with a single off reliever Matthew Gorst before stealing second and trotting home on a single by Gavin Sheets. In the seventh, Roman singled with one out, stole second, and came home on a two-out single by Rutherford to make it a 9-3 game.

Martinez came unglued in the top of the eighth, leading to more runs for the Sox. The righty walked Kyri Washington with one out, and on ball four to Carlos Tovar, Washington was trying to steal second; Mercedes fired wildly to second, and Washington zipped to third when the ball. Martinez then fanned Trenton Kemp, but walked Tyler Hill to load the bases. Brett Netzer struck out on a wild pitch that skidded away from Mercedes, and sped towards first. Mercedes reached the ball and threw wildly, sending the ball into the boundary screen. The error meant that Washington and Tovar both scored safely, trimming the lead to 9-5. Dalbec worked a walk to load the bases back up, but Downs flew out to center, ending the inning. Salem went in order in the ninth inning to finish the game.

Houck was hammered for six runs (four earned) on two hits and four walks in just 1.2 innings; he struck out one batter. Oliver gave up a run on one hit and a career-worst five walks, fanning one. Gorst surrendered two runs on four hits and a walk, whiffing a career-best seven batters. Jordan Weems fired a flawless inning of relief to end the game.

The Sox will try to right the ship Friday night, with righty Bryan Mata taking the ball for Salem against Dash righty Jimmy Lambert. First pitch from BB&T Ballpark is at 7:00 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Red Sox radio network.

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