In a evening of missed opportunities for both squads, Bryce Brentz’ broken-bat RBI single with two outs in the top of the ninth provided the difference in a 2-1 Salem victory over Potomac on Monday night. Salem left 12 runners on base and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but both hits brought home runs in the one-run triumph.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Brentz plopped a ball in shallow right field that Archie Gilbert picked up and unleashed a dart to the plate. The throw was on target, but skipped off the glove of Sandy Leon, enabling Peter Hissey to slide in safely with the game-winning run.
The tally made a winner out of Chris Martin, who despite giving up his fourth run in 11 appearances with Salem, retired 12 of the 15 batters he faced, including the final seven on the night. Martin picked up his second win with the Red Sox, striking out the side in the ninth to slam the door on Potomac’s chances.
Chris Hernandez was solid again for the Red Sox, tossing five scoreless frames, giving up two hits while striking out three and walking three. For the seventh consecutive start, Hernandez held the opponent to one earned run or less and has not given up a run in 13 and two-thirds consecutive innings, dating back to July 27 against Frederick.
Salem was able to get on the board in the top of the first off Potomac starter Paul Demny. After the first two were retired, Demny hit back-to-back batters and issued a walk to load the bases. Jorge Padron then tapped a slow roller down the third base line that he beat out for an RBI infield single, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
From there on, though, the Sox could not scratch across another run against Demny despite numerous opportunities. In his five-plus innings, Demny walked six, gave up four hits, and hit three batters, but stranded all but one of the runners.
Potomac got its run in the last of the seventh against Martin. Zach Walters led off with a single and came around to score on a two-out base knock by Francisco Soriano. Martin was able to strand the go-ahead run at third base, though, inducing a groundout from Jeff Kobernus.
Brentz and Padron were the only Salem Sox to record multiple hits on the night, both going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kolbrin Vitek went 1-for-3, extending his modest hitting streak to six games.
Winners of four straight against Potomac and five of its last seven overall, Salem strives to continue its recent hot stretch on Tuesday afternoon. Stolmy Pimtentel will get the call for Salem against Potomac’s Cameron Selik, with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 PM.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tuesday’s action will be aired live on salemsox.com at 12:05 PM. For listeners in the Roanoke Valley, the game will be heard on tape delay at shortly after 7 PM on WFIR 960 AM.
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Chris Graham
