The Salem Red Sox have been masters of coming back late in games this season, but Mother Nature prevented that from happening Sunday afternoon at Calvin Falwell Field. The Lynchburg Hillcats scored a 1-0 victory in a rain-shortened five-inning affair.
The lone run of the game was scored in the bottom of the second against Jalen Beeks, when Sicnarf Loopstok grounded out to shortstop to score Bobby Bradley, who doubled earlier in the inning.
Beeks (4-3) threw a 5.0-inning complete game in the losing effort for Salem, allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out five. The southpaw faced the minimum number of Lynchburg (36-20) batters after a Yu-Cheng Chang single in the second.
Offensively, the Red Sox (37-20) only mustered three hits against Julian Merryweather, making his return from the disabled list. Nick Longhi stroked a double to right field in the fourth inning, his 14th two-bagger of the season.
Salem loaded the bases later in the fourth inning with two outs after a Rafael Devers infield single and a walk to Danny Mars, but Joseph Monge struck out to end the frame. Merryweather (7-1) exited after that fourth inning having reached his pitch count.
When David Armendariz fouled out to catcher Ben Moore to complete the bottom of the fifth, the tarp was placed over the field as the skies opened up. Play was unable to resume and the game was ended prematurely.
Salem’s magic number to clinch the division remains at seven pending Myrtle Beach’s contest later Sunday evening against Potomac.
The Red Sox are back at the Lynchburg Hillcats Monday at Calvin Falwell Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm. Salem will throw Trey Ball (2-2, 2.31) while Lynchburg counters with Luis Lugo (2-2, 4.78). Follow along with the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with coverage beginning at 6:15 pm.
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Chris Graham
