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Fredericksburg Nationals punch Carolina League playoff ticket with 15-5 win over Salem Red Sox

Chris Graham

Fredericksburg NationalsThe FredNats clinched the second half North Division crown and reserved a spot in the Carolina League playoffs with a resounding 15-5 win at Salem Memorial Ballpark Tuesday evening.

Geraldi Diaz and Branden Boissiere combined for 7 RBIs as the FredNats established control of the contest in the first and never looked back. Diaz’s three-run home run in the opening turn cemented an 8-run frame that proved the difference. Six different FredNats scored multiple runs.

Jackson Rutledge earned his team-best 8th win of the season by punching out seven in five innings of starting work. Redis Sena suffered the loss for Salem. He allowed eight runs without making it out of the first.

The FredNats entered the evening needing a win and a Carolina loss, which came in walkoff style in the opener of their series in Myrtle Beach. The trip to the postseason will be the first for the franchise since the relocation to Fredericksburg. The playoffs will open with a best-of-three divisional round vs. Lynchburg September 13-16. The winner will meet either Myrtle Beach or Charleston, who moved one win away from clinching a playoff berth Tuesday night.

The FredNats now stand at 39-21 in the second half. The team will host Lynchburg in the divisional round playoff game to open the postseason September 13 at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at frednats.com/playoffs.






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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].