Home Red Sox split doubleheader with Myrtle Beach
Sports

Red Sox split doubleheader with Myrtle Beach

salem red soxThe Salem Red Sox rallied for a 5-4 win in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before falling in game two, 4-2, at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

Salem’s first multi-run comeback of the year came after the Sox found themselves down 4-1 after three innings. Myrtle Beach pounced early for two runs in the first on two walks, a wild pitch, a balk and an RBI groundout. The Birds added two more in the third on a two-run double from Victor Caratini, making it 4-1. Salem had gotten on the board thanks to a Manuel Margot sacrifice fly in the top of the third.

In the fourth inning, Cole Sturgeon laced an RBI single on the 10th pitch of his at-bat, scoring Sam Travis to draw Salem to within two. An inning later, Travis provided the RBI with a groundout that scored Jose Vinicio.

Salem entered the seventh trailing 4-3, but put two on with one out for Tzu-Wei Lin, who pounded an RBI ground-rule double to tie the game at four. Travis followed with a sac fly to center, scoring Margot to put the Sox ahead for the first time at 5-4. Mike Adams (1-0) pitched around a leadoff walk in the seventh inning to earn the win. He allowed just one hit in two innings of relief of Kevin McAvoy, who gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks in five innings as part of a no-decision.

Daury Torrez (2-2) started the seventh inning, but was dealt the loss. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 6.1 innings, recording six strikeouts.

Salem started quickly in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Travis RBI single. However, Myrtle Beach responded with two in the bottom of the frame on a Wes Darvill solo home run and a Jacob Rogers RBI double against Joe Gunkel.

The Pelicans added a run in the third inning when Billy McKinney scored Mark Zagunis with an RBI single. But Salem came right back in the top of the fourth with a tally of their own on a titanic solo home run from Travis. The reigning Carolina League Player of the Week finished the twinbill by going a combined 3-for-7 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI.

The Sox had a chance to tie the game in the fourth as they loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Zach Cates, but Carlos Costs bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the frame. Cates (1-0) and Jasvir Rakkar set down the final 10 Salem hitters to finish out the win. Zagunis added an RBI single in the sixth to account for the final margin.

Gunkel (1-1) earned his second spot start for Salem and allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings with four strikeouts. Tayler Scott started for the Pelicans and lasted just three-plus innings before giving way to Cates, who tossed two scoreless frames to earn the win. Rakkar recorded his fourth save of the year.

The two teams will round out the four-game series on Thursday night at 7:05. Daniel McGrath (1-1, 2.45) starts for Salem opposite Myrtle Beach’s Duane Underwood Jr. (3-0, 1.29). Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.