Home Mudcats rally, avoid sweep by Salem Red Sox
Uncategorized

Mudcats rally, avoid sweep by Salem Red Sox

Contributors

salem red soxUnlikely hero Ryan Battaglia smacked a game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, capping Carolina’s improbable three-run rally that gave the Mudcats their first win at Five County Stadium in their last ten tries. Tyler Naquin and Francisco Lindor, both of whom contributed three-hit performances, crossed the plate to transform a 4-3 deficit to the Salem Red Sox into a 5-4 victory celebration. Just two outs away from a three-game series sweep, the Salem Sox were unable to close it out, with Carolina scoring all three runs with one away against Matty Ott to hand the Red Sox their sixth walk-off setback of the season.

Salem almost led wire-to-wire, taking a first inning lead and never trailing until the game’s conclusion. Henry Owens scattered eight hits in five innings, surrendering just one run with four strikeouts and no walks. He threw 59 of his 84 pitches for strikes, departing with Salem in front 4-1 after five. The Mudcats scored once off Noe Ramirez in the sixth before their big three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth.

On an 0-2 pitch, Zach MacPhee smoked a double into the right field corner to begin the climactic inning. Yhoxian Medina grounded out, but Naquin beat out an infield single to bring home MacPhee and give the Mudcats hope. Down by one, Lindor doubled to deep right, moving Naquin to third. Battaglia drilled a hard one-hop line drive at the left-fielder Matty Johnson, who fired back to the cut-off man, David Renfroe, who flung it past catcher Blake Swihart as Lindor, the trail runner, scored behind Naquin to win the game.

Sean Coyle enjoyed a resurgent offensive night, breaking out of a 1-for-37 skid with two hits, a walk, three stolen bases, and three runs scored. But unfortunately for Salem, the super performance went for naught. Keury De La Cruz and Brandon Jacobs also went 2-for-4 for Salem.

Following a 2-5 road trip and 14 of the last 17 games away from LewisGale Field, the Red Sox are ready and eager to return home on Friday night. Salem will host Frederick in a three-game set, with Kyle Stroup facing off against Zach Petersime in the series opener. First pitch is set for 7:05.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Arts, Local

George Thorogood & The Destroyers bringing ‘Baddest Show on Earth’ to Charlottesville

Arts, Local

No day but today: The Wayne Theatre presents “Rent” in Waynesboro

The Wayne Theatre prepares to take audiences back to the 1990s and the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. 

donald trump ben cline pic
Local, Politics, Virginia

Ben Cline applauds Trump effort to boost Russia, China misinformation campaign

Ben Cline thinks “government has no business targeting free speech.” Except when the “free speech” is woke, amirite? Cline, our feckless Sixth District MAGA congressman, tweeted on Friday about the Trump administration’s move to close down the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office at the State Department, which the MAGAs have been whining about...

Arts, Local

Staunton: The Arcadia Project requests $30K in 2026 budget for restoration costs

rocket in space
Virginia

Is there life out there? Astronomers find evidence that might silence skeptics

jmu
Local, Politics, Virginia

JMU’s MAGA Board of Visitors votes to dismantle school’s DEI office

deion sanders
Football

Deion Sanders plays the portal victim game with, of all schools, Virginia