Garin Cecchini reached base four times, the Salem Red Sox erupted for five runs in the third to knock out the Hillcats starter early, and Salem cruised past Lynchburg 8-1 in the opener of their four-game set at City Stadium. Kyle Stroup tossed five and a third strong innings, striking out six, to earn his first win of the year, while former Virginia Tech righthander Matt Price dazzled in his Carolina League debut. Just called up to Salem from extended spring, Price stranded all three runners he inherited with one out in the sixth and tossed two and two-thirds scoreless innings out of Salem’s bullpen. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Sox, who eclipsed their previous best offensive output of the year by scoring eight times.
Cecchini triggered Salem’s first run singlehandedly, blasting a 2-2 pitch from Mark Pope over the right field fence for a first-inning solo homer. It was the start of a big night for Cechini, who walked twice and laced an RBI double in the eighth to finish 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Stroup surrendered a first-inning solo shot to William Beckwith, but refused to yield any other runs during his five and a third innings on the mound. He struck out six, punching out the side in the fourth, and walked a pair. But history nearly repeated itself when the opponent loaded the bases against him in the sixth. Last time out, Stroup departed with the bases loaded and watched all three men eventually score. But this time, with Salem in front 7-1, Price entered and induced Will Skinner’s 5-4-3 double play grounder that retired the side.
Salem’s big third inning began with one of Cecchini’s two walks. He stole second and scored on the first of three consecutive RBI doubles from Brandon Jacobs, Keury De La Cruz, and David Renfroe. Blake Swihart followed the three straight extra-base hits with a single, chasing Pope from the ballgame with two runners on. James Hoyt entered, walked Jose Garcia to load the bases, and gave up consecutive sacrifice flies to Nick Natoli and Matty Johnson, bolting the Sox to a six-run lead.
The Sox added one more insurance run in the top of the eighth when Deven Marrero singled with two outs. Cecchini doubled into the right field scorer, sending Marrero racing around the bases and creating a play at the plate. But the catcher Luis De La Cruz dropped the ball and Marrero scored, with Cecchini advancing to third on the missed catch error on De La Cruz.
Matty Ott delivered the final word for the Red Sox, dealing a 1-2-3 ninth with a pair of strikeouts to preserve the win. Cecchini and Swihart both finished with multiple hits, while every member of the Salem lineup either reached base or drove in a run to contribute to the triumph.
Salem and Lynchburg will reunite on Friday evening for a 6:05 start, with Mike Augliera and Ryan Weber scheduled to square off in a battle of righthanders.
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