CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Sox Smash Past Dash 7-3 Thursday

Published on June 7, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Salem Red Sox benefited from clutch hitting in big moments and some stellar work from their bullpen Thursday night, notching a 7-3 win over the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T Ballpark.

Salem (28-28) earned their first series win over the Dash in 2018, and found their way back to .500 with the victory. Winston-Salem (33-27) fell to the Sox for the second straight night, allowing Salem to take a narrow 546-545 lead in the all-time series between the two franchises. Relievers Jake Cosart (W, 2-0), Algenis Martinez (H, 2) and Matthew Gorst (S, 8) combined for four innings of no-hit relief, only allowing one walk. With the Potomac Nationals losing 4-2 to the Frederick Keys, Salem closed to within 1.5 games of first place in the Northern Division with less than two weeks left in the first half.

The Sox got going right away against Winston-Salem starting pitcher Bernardo Flores. With one out in the top of the first, Brett Netzer sliced a single through the right side, and C.J. Chatham added a single of his own to put runners at first and second. Bobby Dalbec hit a hard bouncer to third that Ti'Quan Forbes mishandled, and the Sox loaded the bases. Roldani Baldwin took advantage, knocking a single to left and scoring Netzer to give the Sox a 1-0 lead.

Salem doubled their advantage in the top of the second inning. Trenton Kemp led off the frame with a liner to left for a single, and moved to second on a passed ball by catcher Yermin Mercedes. Chris Madera dropped a sacrifice bunt, advancing Kemp to third base, and Carlos Tovar bounced a single through the middle to score Kemp and run the lead to 2-0.

The Winston-Salem offense roared to life in the bottom of the fifth against Salem starter Bryan Mata, who had held them to two hits and two walks through the first four frames. Leadoff man Micker Adolfo singled up the middle before Zach Remillard flew out to center and Yeyson Yrizarri struck out, lending hope that Mata could escape the frame unscathed. However, Mitch Roman singled and Luis Alexander Basabe drew a walk to load the bases. Forbes slashed a single past the dive of Santiago Espinal at third, and Adolfo and Roman came in to score, with Basabe reaching third on the play. With Alex Call at the plate, Baldwin mishandled a pitch from Mata, and Basabe scored on the resulting passed ball to give the Dash a 3-2 lead..

The Sox surged back into the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Tovar hit a bouncer to third that Forbes fielded cleanly, but his throw to first was errant, allowing Tovar to reach base safely. Espinal made the Dash pay for the error, sending a fastball high over the wall in left for a two-run shot to put Salem back in front 4-3.

Salem added a vital insurance run in the top of the eighth against Winston-Salem reliever Kyle Kubat. Dalbec led off the frame by ripping a double into the gap in left-center field, and he advanced to third when Roldani Baldwin struck out on a pitch in the dirt. Tyler Hill popped out for the second out, but Trenton Kemp cracked a sizzling liner up the left field line for an RBI double that gave Salem a 5-3 edge.

The Sox poured it on in the top of the ninth. Espinal and Netzer each singled with one away, and Dalbec did the same with two outs to load the bases. Baldwin came through in the clutch, punching a single to left that scored both Espinal and Netzer and ran the lead to 7-3. Gorst took it from there, striking out two in a perfect ninth to slam the door.

Mata gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks in five frames, striking out three. Cosart struck out the side in his lone inning of action. Martinez likewise tossed a perfect frame of relief, striking out one. Gorst fanned two batters in two no-hit innings, allowing only one walk.

The Sox open up a critical series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Friday night, with righty Roniel Raudes making the start for the Sox against Pelicans righty Keegan Thompson. First pitch from TicketReturn.com Field is at 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.

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Carolina League Stories from June 7, 2018


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