Behind a legendary performance from Mookie Betts, the Salem Red Sox erased an early 3-0 deficit and scored 18 times in the final five innings to smash the Pelicans 18-5 in Friday’s series finale. Betts crushed a three-run homer in the sixth to transform a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead. One inning later, he launched a bases-loaded double to create separation. He led off the ninth with another double and jacked his second homer of the night later in the eight-run, ninth-inning explosion. All told, Betts followed his four-hit Thursday with five hits on Friday, including two doubles, two homers, four runs scored, and seven RBI. The biggest win of the year moved Salem back into sole possession of first place for the first time since June 29. The Sox are a half-game ahead of the Pelicans and three ahead of the Mudcats with 10 to play in the regular season.
Keury De La Cruz and Blake Swihart each added three hits for the Red Sox, who pounded 15 hits and drew 10 walks in the 13-run win. In the ninth inning alone, Sean Coyle belted a three-run blast, De La Cruz jacked a two-run shot, and Betts finished the scoring with a solo homer. The last two dingers came against Edwin Garcia, who started the game at first place but took over on the mound when the score was 15-5.
Early on, the Red Sox offense was stymied by Myrtle Beach starter Chi Chi Gonzalez. The 31st overall pick in the 2013 draft, Gonzalez authored his finest Carolina League start, dealing four scoreless innings and departing with a 3-0 lead. But with two outs and two on in the top of the fifth, De La Cruz broke the seal with a two-run double to bring the Sox within one.
The Birds took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Betts delivered his first big haymaker with a three-run drive off the video-board in left, lifting the Sox to their first lead in the top of the sixth. In the seventh, two walks and a single loaded the bases for Swihart, who singled home a run to make it 6-4. With the bases still juiced, Betts crushed a drive to deep center that landed on the edge of the warning track, clearing the pond and putting the Sox ahead 9-4. Betts earned a three-run double, advancing to third on the throw home, increasing his RBI total to six on the night. Nick Natoli drove him in with a single, and Salem was up 10-4.
Chris Grayson’s solo homer in the last of the eighth brought the Birds within five, but the Sox teed off against Ryan Harvey in the ninth, with seven straight hitters reaching base to begin the inning. Salem ended up with eight runs on three doubles, three homers, and two walks in the ninth, bolting to their largest lead of the year.
The offensive onslaught made a winner of Mike McCarthy, who went the distance after taking over for Kyle Stroup in the fifth inning. McCarthy permitted two runs in five frames, improving to 5-2 on the season. Will Lamb, who allowed the first home run to Betts in the sixth, suffered the loss for Myrtle Beach.
The Salem Sox have now won 16 of their last 23 games since July 30. In the last five contests, the Red Sox have scored 47 runs, and that includes Wednesday’s 5-0 shutout setback. Salem scored nine on Monday, 10 on Tuesday, none on Wednesday, 10 on Thursday, and a season-high 18 on Friday.
The Red Sox continue their final road trip of the season at Carolina on Saturday, with Brian Johnson poised to make his Carolina League debut on the mound. He’ll face Robert Whitenack, with the first pitch slated for 6:15.
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