The Carolina Mudcats recorded back-to-back three run innings in the fourth and fifth and dispatched the Salem Red Sox 9-4on Thursday night at LewisGale Field to swipe the three-game series.
Salem earned an early lead in the first inning thanks to a pair of singles from Tzu-Wei Lin and Kevin Heller, the latter of which knocked in Lin to give the Sox a 1-0 advantage.
Teddy Stankiewicz cruised through the first three innings, as he allowed only one hit and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced. He ran in to trouble in the fourth, though, surrendering singles to Connor Lien and Jacob Schrader. Carlos Franco then provided the big blow, launching a three-run homer over the right field wall, putting Carolina up 3-1.
The Mudcats keep it moving in the fifth as Keith Curcio tripled to right-center, knocking in Reed Harper with one out. Lien followed by driving in Curcio with a single before he stole second and then third in the next at-bat. Dustin Peterson then singled to plate Lien, putting Carolina up 6-1.
Stankiewicz (3-9) was branded the losing pitcher with six runs allowed on seven hits over five innings pitched.
Carolina earned an insurance run in the seventh on a Peterson RBI single and added two more in the ninth on a Lien two-run homer. Lien finished the series with two home runs after entering with only three in his first 71 games. He was 4-for-5 with three RBI and three singles to go with his homer and Peterson went 2-for-5 with one run scored and two RBI.
Max Povse had his best start with the Mudcats after dropping his first two appearances. Povse (1-2) went six strong frames, allowing a run on four hits to go with three strikeouts. He cut his ERA down to 10.45 with the outing and earned his first Carolina League victory.
Salem didn’t go down quietly, though, loading the bases in the ninth with nobody out. The Sox managed three more runs on a two-run single from Jordan Betts and an RBI double from Derek Miller. Betts, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Heller who added two hits, a run and an RBI, led the Red Sox offensively.
Salem heads back out on the road for a four-game series with the Frederick Keys beginning Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Kevin McAvoy (4-7, 4.28) will take the mound for the Sox, while the Keys will send out Mitch Horacek (5-8, 4.21). Fans 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
