Salem Red Sox rally, defeat Lynchburg, 5-4

The Carolina League’s top two teams met Tuesday night at LewisGale Field and the game did not disappoint. The Salem Red Sox overcame an early deficit to defeat the Lynchburg Hillcats, 4-3.

The Lynchburg offense struck early against Dedgar Jimenez, scoring a run without a hit in the first inning. The Hillcats tacked on single runs in the second and third frames, but Jimenez limited the damage by stranding four runners on base and inducing a double play.

Sean Brady was strong early, but Salem (22-9) struck in the fourth inning with a run when Yoan Moncada doubled, was sacrificed to third by Mauricio Dubon, and then came home on a Nick Longhi sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 Hillcats (22-9).

Jimenez got into early trouble in the fifth by walking the first two batters he faced before being removed from the game in favor of German Taveras. The righty reliever walked the first batter to load the bases with no outs, but came back with a strikeout and a double play to prevent Lynchburg from scoring.

Taveras was splendid in relief, pitching perfect sixth and seventh innings after dancing around the fifth-inning jam.

The Red Sox got a one-out triple from Longhi in the bottom of the seventh against Brady (2-2), who later scored on a Devers groundout to cut the lead to 3-2.

Salem took the lead in the eighth thanks to two runs off Sean Brady after Mike Meyers led off with a single and Jordan Betts followed with a walk. Reliever David Speer was called on and allowed Ben Moore to reach on an error on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases.

Bryan Hudson grounded into a double play, which scored Meyers to tie the game. Then, Yoan Moncada singled home Betts to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.

Yankory Pimentel (2-0) worked around a leadoff double in the eighth inning to keep the Hillcats scoreless. Jake Drehoff earned the save, his fifth of the season, with a 1-2-3 ninth on six pitches.

The Red Sox continue their three-game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats Wednesday night at LewisGale Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm. Salem will send Trey Ball (1-0, 1.80) to the mound, and the Hillcats will counter with southpaw Justus Sheffield (3-1, 3.64). For tickets and more information call (540) 389-3333 or slide to www.salemsox.com/tickets.