The Red Sox put runners aboard in eight of nine innings, but went just 1-13 with runners in scoring position in their 3-0 loss to Wilmington on Friday night at Frawley Stadium. The Blue Rocks made three errors to Salem’s none, and the Red Sox mustered seven hits to Wilmington’s four, but the home squad had the edge in the column that counts, scoring once in the fifth and twice more in the seventh to salvage the series finale and avoid the sweep.
Justin Marks tossed the first five frames, Tyler Sample dealt two, and Bryan Paukovitz handled the final two innings out of the Wilmington bullpen to team up for the shutout. Marks improved to 4-5, working out of jams in four of his five innings in the hill. With the game still scoreless in the top of the fifth, Salem loaded the bases with two outs, but Marks struck out Miles Head to escape the threat. The Wilmington starter gave up four hits and four walks, but struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 4.64.
Salem starter Ryan Pressly delivered his second straight quality outing, but also was handed his second straight tough-luck loss. Pressly tossed 52 of his 82 pitches for strikes, finishing with six and a third innings of two-hit ball. But unlike the Red Sox, the Blue Rocks capitalized on their few chances, scoring three runs despite just receiving two walks in addition to the two hits they mustered off Pressly. Tim Ferguson’s RBI ground-out plated John Whittleman in the fifth, and Whittleman’s two-strike double scored Carlo Testa in the seventh. Following the RBI double, Anatanaer Batista took over for Pressly, surrendering a single to Ferguson that drove in Testa and made it 3-0.
In five of the seven innings worked, Pressly faced the minimum three batters. Salem, on the other hand, sent more than three men to the plate in seven of the nine innings in the game, yet never eked anyone across. Head went 2-4 but got gunned down at home trying to score on Josue Peley’s single in the second. Peley also went 2-4 for the Red Sox, but Salem equaled the ignominious season-high of 13 runners left on base, matching their effort from June 10 against Potomac.
Even with Friday’s setback, the Red Sox still took two of three from the Blue Rocks, picking up their first series win of the second half.
Salem’s road trip continues on Saturday night in Winston-Salem, with Anthony Ranaudo scheduled to face Andre Rienzo at 7:00 PM from BB&T Ballpark.
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Chris Graham
