Teddy Stankiewicz struck out five and fired seven shutout innings as the Salem Red Sox shut out the Potomac Nationals 8-0 on Sunday night at Pfitzner Stadium.
The Sox spotted Stankiewicz a run in the top of the second, as Mike Meyers smacked a ground rule double to left-center. Ian Dickson then ran into control issues, walking Franklin Guzman and Jordan Procyshen to load the bases. He then walked Zach Kapstein with the bags packed, scoring Meyers and putting the Red Sox on top 1-0.
Dickson (3-3) was pulled with two outs in the second inning as he took the loss with one run on one hit and four walks in 1.2 innings pitched.
Salem added to the lead in the fifth thanks to a pair of solo shots. Mario Martinez did it first with a one-out bomb to left, his sixth home run of the season. Franklin Guzman followed two batters later by blasting a homer off of the video board in left-center, his team-leading eighth home run of the year. After the two loud runs, the Red Sox led 3-0.
In the seventh, Wendell Rijo worked a leadoff single before Kevin Heller walked. Both men took off for a double steal and Zach Wright attempted to catch Rijo at third, but sailed the throw to left field. Rijo scored on the throwing error, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Stankiewicz (5-11) won his final start of the season thanks to seven shutout innings in which he allowed five hits and walked two while striking out five. His ERA finishes at 4.01 and Stankiewicz won consecutive starts for the first time all season in his final two outings.
The Sox got four more in the top of the ninth when David Masters tossed what would have been the final out of the inning high past first base, allowing Rijo and Meyers to score. Zach Kapstein then doubled in Guzman and Procyshen, making the score 8-0 Salem.
Martinez was 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, Guzman went 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run and two runs and Rijo finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases.
Salem improved to 65-73 with the victory and 27-41 in the second half as Potomac dropped to 65-73 and 32-36. The win ensured that the Sox will take the season series over the Nationals.
The final game of the 2015 season takes place Monday at 1:05 p.m. with Kevin McAvoy (11-9, 3.90) getting the start for Salem against Potomac’s Austen Williams (4-5, 2.22). Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
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