The Salem Red Sox made a furious comeback in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Wilmington Blue Rocks held on for a 6-5 win Wednesday night at LewisGale Field.
Pitching was in charge early, as Michael Kopech of the Red Sox (52-36, 9-10) and Foster Griffin of the Blue Rocks (34-55, 7-13) matched zeros through the first five frames of the game.
Kopech was spectacular in his second Salem start, striking out three in the first inning to escape a bases-loaded jam. Overall, he tied a career high by fanning eight batters. He walked just one and allowed only four hits in his 5.0 shutout innings.
In his two starts with Salem, Kopech has tossed 9.0 consecutive scoreless stanzas, and dating back to his last start in 2015, his scoreless streak is 18.1 innings long. As the Red Sox were unable to score with him still in the game, he received his second straight no decision.
Wilmington tallied the first run of the game against Yankory Pimentel in the top of the sixth on a Wander Franco double, but Salem pulled even against Griffin (2-5) in the bottom of the frame. Rafael Devers tripled to right-centerfield to score Reed Gragnani and even the game at one.
The damage could’ve been greater, but a ball was ruled to have hit Deiner Lopez in fair territory as he dashed down the third base line trying to score on Gragnani’s single. Instead of another run scoring, Lopez was out, and only one tally was put on the board in the frame.
Pimentel (6-5) yielded three more runs in the top of the seventh when the Blue Rocks utilized two sacrifice flies sandwiched around an Anderson Miller double to build a 4-1 lead. Mario Alcantara was summoned from the bullpen to record the inning’s final out.
The Blue Rocks scored a pair against Alcantara in the eighth on the legs of a Colton Frabasilio RBI triple and sacrifice fly by Brian Bien to expand Wilmington’s advantage to 6-1.
Salem rallied against Kyle Kubat in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Jose Sermo walked and Danny Mars singled with one out. Jordan Procyshen singled to score Sermo, and a double from Jordan Betts plated Mars. Luis Rico was brought into the game to face Deiner Lopez, representing the tying run.
Lopez hit a bouncing ball to third base that Franco allowed to go right through his legs, and Procyshen dashed home to score. Back-to-back walks to Joseph Monge and pinch-hitter Mike Meyers forced home Betts and brought up Devers with the tying run on third. Devers, though, struck out and Nick Longhi flew out to right to end the game.
Salem continues the series with the Wilmington Blue Rocks Thursday night at LewisGale Field. The Red Sox will throw Matt Kent (7-4, 3.43), while the Blue Rocks roll with Zach Lovvorn (1-10, 3.27). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm. For tickets and more information, call (540) 389-3333, or slide to www.salemsox.com/tickets.
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