Ball throws six no-hit innings, Red Sox rock Mudcats, 6-2

Trey Ball delivered six no-hit innings, Oscar Tejeda drove in a pair of runs and eight different batters had a hit as the Salem Red Sox defeated the Carolina Mudcats 6-2 on Friday night at LewisGale Field. Salem has now won three games in a row.

Ball (1-1) was dominant in his second start of the year, issuing only two walks over his six scoreless frames. The 6-6 left-hander struck out five and did not allow a base runner past first base. The Mudcats didn’t put a man aboard until there were two outs in the fourth inning. Both walks that Ball issued came with two down, the latter occurring in the sixth inning.

The Red Sox started fast offensively, Manuel Margot led off the first inning with a triple and later scored on a single from Tejeda. Ball would be spotted another run in the fifth inning when Tejeda drove in Sam Travis with a double off the wall.

German Taveras entered with the no-hitter alive to begin the seventh inning. With one out in the frame, Jose Briceno smashed a grounder up the middle that squeaked by Wendell Rijo, ending the no-hit bid.

Salem’s offense provided four more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh pushing the lead to 6-0. Mario Martinez led off with a solo home run, his first of the season. Forrestt Allday walked and later scored on a Sam Travis double. After a Tejeda walk, Travis would score on an RBI ground ball error off the bat of Anuery Tavarez. Tejeda then crossed on a wild pitch, representing the sixth run of the ballgame.

The Mudcats would threaten further in the eighth. Taveras allowed two runs on five hits, recording only one out before being lifted for Austin Maddox. With two runners aboard, Maddox got Briceno to ground into a double play, escaping with no further damage. Maddox then worked a clean ninth, earning his first save of the season.

The Red Sox improved to 4-4 with the victory and the Mudcats fell to 4-4. Saturday night these two will tangle for the third game in a four-game series with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Teddy Stankiewicz (1-0, 3.00) toes the rubber for Salem opposite Carolina’s Steve Janas (1-0, 0.00).

Daredevil Dogs will perform throughout the night, showcasing a stunt show with dogs snagging flying discs while leaping through the air. The Red Sox will also have a fan giveaway in every inning as part of the team’s Nine Innings of Winning in addition to a team poster given away to the first 500 patrons.

Fans unable to attend can listen to the game on 1240 AM WGMN ESPN Roanoke, on salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.