Potomac Nationals stun Salem Red Sox in ninth, win 3-2

The Potomac Nationals score the game-winning run on a passed ball in the ninth inning and came from behind to beat the Salem Red Sox 3-2 on Saturday night at LewisGale Field.

In a 2-2 game, Alec Keller led off the ninth with a single off of German Taveras. He was sacrificed to second on a bunt from Khayyan Norefork and scampered to third after tagging on a fly ball to right from Craig Manuel. With Narciso Mesa batting, Jordan Weems allowed a pitch to squirt between his legs and Keller sprinted home to score on a passed ball, putting the Nationals up for the first time, 3-2.

Salem was retired in order in the last of the ninth by Manny Rodriguez, who picked up his fourth save of the year in the process.

The Red Sox struck first on their first hit of the game. Weems led off the third inning with a walk and stood on second when the lineup flipped for Mauricio Dubon. The Sox shortstop pulled a single down the left field line, scoring Weems from second for a 1-0 lead.

Salem extended its lead in the next inning when Wendell Rijo singled and stole second to start the fourth. Mario Martinez then cracked a single to the gap in left-center, easily scoring Rijo for a 2-0 Salem advantage.

Potomac tied the game in the top of the seventh, finally getting to Salem starter Aaron Wilkerson. Grant DeBruin singled and then promptly scored on a Drew Ward double on the next pitch. Three batters later, Craig Manuel pulled a two-out single to left and Ward came home to tie the game at two.

Wilkerson had not allowed a run through six innings and finished with two runs against him on seven hits over 6.2 innings. He walked two and struck out five but did not factor in the decision. Taveras (4-2) entered for Wilkerson in the seventh and was the hard luck loser, allowing only one unearned run on two hits and a walk, paired with two strikeouts.

Reynaldo Lopez was impressive over seven innings for Potomac, seeing two runs score on four hits and four strikeouts. Derek Self (3-3) earned the win with a perfect eighth inning in relief.

Mario Martinez went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI for the Sox, while Mauricio Dubon was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI single. Salem’s loss dropped its record to 51-49 and 13-17 in the second half while Potomac improved to 46-53 and 13-15.

The series continues Sunday with a special 7:05 p.m. start time with a postgame fireworks show presented by ASA Softball. Kevin McAvoy (5-8, 4.70) will toe the rubber for Salem against Potomac’s Ian Dickson (0-0, 3.55). Fans unable to attend can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.