Long ball lifts Myrtle Beach past Salem Red Sox, 4-2

Royce Bolinger and Jorge Alfaro both hit homer runs as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans beat the Salem Red Sox 4-2 at LewisGale Field Saturday night. Bolinger’s two run shot in the fourth gave the Pelicans a 2-1 lead, and Alfaro’s solo blast extend the lead to 3-1 in the sixth.

Justin Haley was the tough luck loser for the Sox tonight, allowing just three hits in his five innings of work. Haley retired the first 11 batters he faced. But with two outs in the fourth, Preston Beck doubled, and Bolinger launched a deep home run to left to give the Pelicans a 2-1 lead.

The Sox did hold a 1-0 lead in this game. In the third inning, Birds reliever Cody Buckel walked Matty Johnson, and allowed a hit to Carlos Asuaje. Then Buckel threw wild to first on a pickoff attempt, allowing Johnson to score to give the Sox a 1-0 edge. Salem ended up loading the bases with no outs. But in a crucial turning point in the game, Buckel got Carson Blair to strike out and Reed Gragnani to bounce into a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the third. From their, Buckel would settle in a retire 11 straight Sox to finish his outing. Buckel got the win, lasting four and a third innings. Sam Wolff started for Myrtle Beach, going one and two thirds in a scheduled short outing off his injury.

Corey Littrell entered for the Sox in the sixth, his first appearance out of the bullpen this year. After the lead off home run by Alfaro, Littrell allowed a bunt single to Chris Garia and walked Preston Beck. Bolinger bounced into a double play, scoring Garia to give the Birds a 4-1 edge. Littrell finished with two runs on three hits in four innings, striking out six.

The Sox cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Aneury Tavarez singled with one out, followed by a two out walk to Matty Johnson. Carlos Asuaje then singled in Tavarez to cut the lead to 4-2. After a single by Miller, the Sox loaded the bases, but Jantzen Witte grounded out to end the inning.

The rubber game of this three game set is tomorrow at 7:05. Pat Light is scheduled for the Sox.