The Potomac Nationals struck for two early home runs, which were good enough to knock off the Salem Red Sox 5-2 on Wednesday evening at Pfitzner Stadium.
Jalen Beeks yielded the two homers to Potomac, a two-run shot to Jose Marmolejos in the first inning and a solo blast from Andrew Stevenson in the third.
Salem (31-15) had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks in part to a Potomac (23-20) error. Yoan Moncada led off the game by singling, moved to second on the fielding error by second baseman Bryan Mejia, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a Nick Longhi sacrifice fly.
After the homer in the last of the first, the Red Sox tied the game up in the third inning, again thanks to poor defense from the Nationals. This time, Mauricio Dubon reached on a one out error and moved to third on a Mike Meyers single. In the next at-bat, Meyers took off for second and as the throw went down to second base, Dubon scampered to steal home and even the game at two.
Stevenson put Potomac back ahead with a first-pitch homer in the last of the third, but that was as much as the Nationals would get against Beeks (4-2). The Salem southpaw authored his second quality start of the season, lasting six innings while giving up the three runs on nine hits. He struck out three of the final four hitters he faced and didn’t walk a batter.
Phillips Valdez moseyed around troubled for the Nationals, but lasted six innings without allowing an earned run. Valdez (5-2) allowed the two unearned tallies on five hits while collecting six strikeouts.
Raudy Read provided some insurance for the P-Nats in the eighth with a two-run double against Mario Alcantara, setting the table for Ryan Brinley to pick up his seventh save of the season in the ninth.
The Red Sox will now look to win the series in the rubber game on Thursday at 7:05 pm. Dedgar Jimenez (2-2, 5.75) will start for Salem against Wirken Estevez (0-3, 4.41) for the Nationals. Follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network. Coverage with the Pregame Show driven by Haley Toyota begins at 6:45 pm.
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Chris Graham
