Seth Webster struck out eight batters and the Carolina Mudcats survived multiple late rallies to sneak past the Salem Red Sox 4-3 on Wednesday night at LewisGale Field.
Carolina wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning thanks to a leadoff homer from Connor Lien on the very first pitch of the game against Trey Ball. Webster then got to work as the first five Red Sox that he retired came via the strikeout. Jordan Weems provided the Sox first run of the game in the second inning with an RBI single that drove in Jordan Procyshen, tying the game at one.
The Mudcats pulled ahead for good in the top of the fourth inning. Joe Odom smacked a single to right to lead off the frame and Carlos Franco followed with a walk. Jose Briceno then knocked an RBI single that scored Odom from second. Two batters later, Johan Camargo laid down a run-scoring safety squeeze to score Franco, setting up Reed Harper, who singled Briceno home to push the Carolina lead to 4-1.
Meanwhile, Webster continued to stymie Salem batters as he pitched into the seventh inning, exiting with two outs recorded and a runner on third. Forrestt Allday sent a grounder up the middle and drove home Derek Miller in the first at-bat against Andy Otero, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Webster (4-5) picked up the win with two runs allowed on eight hits and eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings pitched. He threw 74 of his 99 pitches for strikes to earn his first win since June 16.
The Sox fought back for another run in the eighth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Derek Miller shot a grounder through the hole to right field that scored Mario Martinez from third base. Mauricio Dubon attempted to score from second on the play, but was thrown out to end the inning and the threat with Salem trailing 4-3.
Justin Jackson then worked around a one-out single in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season. Overall he tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout.
Ball (6-7) took the loss by allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. Martinez turned in a 2-for-3 day with a walk and a run scored and Miller went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Allday was 2-for-5 with an RBI, extending his hitting streak to six games.
The loss put the Red Sox at 43-40 for the season and 5-8 in the second half. Carolina tied the three-game series at one and improved to 41-42 and 7-7 with the win. The rubber game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. on Thursday as Teddy Stankiewicz (3-8, 3.69) starts against Max Povse (0-2, 22.85). Fans unable to attend can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
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Chris Graham
