Salem Red Sox drop third straight

For the second straight night, the Winston-Salem Dash got superb starting pitching and were able to defeat the Salem Red Sox, 6-1, Friday at BB&T Ballpark.

Salem (41-26) starter Jalen Beeks was sharp in his first two innings, but faltered in the third, allowing two runs to the Dash thanks to a Mason Robbins double.  He yielded an unearned run in the fourth, and the Red Sox fell behind 3-0.

Winston-Salem (28-40) starting pitcher Tanner Banks was great in his second start with the Dash, silencing Salem’s bats – shutting the club out in 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits in the process. Combined with Spencer Adams’ effort in Thursday’sseries opener, Dash starters have combined for 15.0 scoreless innings in the first two games of this series.

Beeks (4-4) was removed from the game after 4.2 innings, having allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, walking three and striking out four.

German Taveras relieved Beeks, and after a scoreless sixth, allowed three runs while recording just one out. Jamie Callahan entered with the bases loaded, and allowed one inherited runner to score before rolling an inning-ending double play.

With Banks (1-0) out of the game in the seventh, the Red Sox struck for a run against Dash reliever Jacob Morris. Danny Mars walked, stole both second and third base, and then scored on a Mauricio Dubon sacrifice fly to cut the Dash lead to 6-1.

In the ninth, Jordan Betts laced a two-out double, Ben Moore reached on a dropped third strike and Bryan Hudson walked to load the bases. Morris then coaxed Deiner Lopez to bounce into a game-ending groundout.

Moore was a bright spot offensively for Salem, going 2-for-4 and snapping what had been an 0-for-20 stretch.

The Red Sox continue the series with the Winston-Salem Dash Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm. Salem will hand the ball to Trey Ball (3-3, 2.60) while Winston-Salem has not announced a starter. Follow along with the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with coverage beginning at 6:15 pm.