Salem comes up short again at Carolina

Salem Red Sox bats couldn’t crack Carolina pitching for the third straight game, and the Carolina Mudcats grabbed a rare series victory with a 7-3 win. Carolina knocked around Salem pitching for 14 hits, and has outhit Salem 40-17 over the last three games. After Salem took game one of the four-game road series, Carolina came back with three straight triumphs. Carolina won a series for just the fifth time this season.

Salem had an encouraging start when Henry Ramos hit a leadoff homer to start the game, but after Carolina tied the game at one in the bottom of the first, Salem would never lead again.

The Mudcats got to Sox starter Kyle Kraus in four of the five innings he was on the hill, with one run in the first, two in the second, one in the third, and two in the fifth. The recent Greenville call-up picked up the loss to fall to 1-2, allowing six runs on 12 hits and two walks in four and one third frames. Nefi Ogando did toss two and two thirds innings of scoreless, hitless relief for the Red Sox.

Carolina starter Shawn Morimando only lasted three innings after a disastrous third. He walked five in the inning, but somehow only permitted one run. In total, Morimando allowed two runs on one hit and six walks in three innings, picking up a no decision. Reliever Francisco Valera earned the win for the Mudcats, pitching four scoreless innings and improving to 1-3.

The Red Sox’ other scoring came in the third when Stefan Welch walked with the bases loaded to drive in Nick Natoli, and in the eighth on a Brandon Jacobs solo shot to left field.

Salem heads back home to face Myrtle Beach following a seven-game road trip. Williams Cuevas will start on the mound for the Sox against Victor Payano Monday night at 7:00 pm.