Carolina Mudcats sink Salem Red Sox

The Carolina Mudcats rallied for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Salem Red Sox 9-6 at Five County Stadium Monday night.

The Red Sox (50-30, 7-4) got off to a fast start in the top of the first against Mudcats (32-50, 3-9) starter Matt Withrow. Rafael Devers doubled and scored two pitches later on a Nick Longhi single to open the scoring. Mike Meyers reached on an error, and then Jose Sermo blasted a mammoth three-run home run to right-centerfield to put Salem on top 4-0.

Salem starting pitcher Travis Lakins was cruising until the third inning, when MLB rehabber Gordon Beckham struck for a two-run home run to narrow the deficit to 4-2.

Meyers added to his productive day with a home run against Withrow in the top of the sixth inning, tucked over the wall in left field to extend the Red Sox’ lead to 5-2. It was the fourth home run of the season for Meyers, and the second one he has hit at Five County Stadium.

The string unraveled in the bottom of the sixth, when the Mudcats scored runs against a combination of Lakins, Mario Alcantara, and Simon Mercedes. Alcantara (7-1) walked four batters and recorded just two outs, allowing four runs to be charged against him, as well as allowing two inherited runners to score and handing Carolina an 8-5 lead. The Mudcats tying and go-ahead runs came on two-out, bases loaded walks from Alcantara.

In the bottom of the eighth, Longhi struck for an opposite-field home run to the short porch in right field off Carlos Portuondo to close the gap to 8-6. The home run was the second of the season for Longhi, and Salem’s third of the game – a new season high for the club.

Mercedes hurled a scoreless seventh, and German Taveras allowed a trio of two-out base-hits in the eighth to plate an insurance run for the Carolina, giving them a 9-6 lead. Sean McLaughlin set the Sox down in order in the ninth to notch his third save of the season.

The Red Sox continue the series with the Mudcats Tuesday night at Five County Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Salem will throw Daniel McGrath (3-3, 4.29) while Carolina counters with Caleb Beech (1-2, 3.86). Follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 pm.