Salem Red Sox drop series opener to Pelicans

Four errors doomed the Salem Red Sox Wednesday afternoon, as they fell 6-3 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at LewisGale Field. The Pelicans scored four unearned runs against Red Sox pitching in taking the series opener.

The scoreless tie was broken in the top of the third, as the Pelicans (28-23) touched up Trey Ball for three runs on three-straight RBI hits. Myrtle Beach plated two more unearned runs against Ball in the top of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

The Red Sox (33-19) responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth against Pelicans starter Erick Leal. After Mike Meyers reached on a fielder’s choice, an errant pickoff throw allowed Meyers to advance to third. He would score on a Nick Longhi RBI single.

Longhi had a strong day at the plate finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI, helping him snap out of a 1-for-11 skid. The first baseman leads the Red Sox with 35 RBIs on the season.

Ball (2-2) was removed from the game after 5.0 innings, allowing five runs (two earned runs) on seven hits, walking four. He did not register a strikeout for the first time this season.

The Pelicans tacked on yet another unearned run in the top of the eighth against Ben Taylor, when Rashad Crawford’s fourth hit of the game brought home Jeffrey Baez to run the Myrtle Beach lead to 6-1.

Taylor came in to replace Ball, and other than the unearned blip in the eighth, he was superb. The righthander struck out five in 3.0 innings of work, surrendering only three hits.

The Red Sox chased Leal from the game after 5.0 innings, but Tommy Thorpe came in from the bullpen to shut Salem down over three innings of work.

In the ninth against Daniel Lewis, Salem got a base hit from Danny Mars, who advanced to third with just one out. Joseph Monge walked to put runners on the corners, and following a Ben Moore groundout and Bryan Hudson double, the score was 6-3 and Lewis was removed from the game.

Daury Torrez entered and coaxed a flyout off the bat of Yoan Moncada to end the game.

The Red Sox will play two with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Thursday at LewisGale Field. First pitch in game one is scheduled for5:05 pm. Salem will throw Matt Kent (3-3, 4.08) in game one, while Myrtle Beach rolls with Jeremy Null (1-1, 2.55). The Red Sox have not announced a starter in game two yet, and Jake Stinnett (4-1, 3.09) will toe the rubber for the Pelicans. For tickets and more information slide to www.salemsox.com/tickets or call (540) 389-3333.