Salem Red Sox silence Dash in duel, 1-0

Aaron Wilkerson, Chandler Shepherd and Mike Adams combined to shut out the Winston-Salem Dash on just five hits on Thursday night at LewisGale Field, contributing to a 1-0 Salem Red Sox victory.

In his second start and third appearance since being promoted from Low-A Greenville, Wilkerson was spectacular. He struck out six over five innings and allowed just two hits and two walks, earning the win. Wilkerson (1-0) retired seven of the last eight batters he saw and lowered his ERA with the Sox to 0.68.

The Sox scored the game’s only run with some small ball in the fourth inning. Sam Travis worked a walk to begin the home half and was quickly advanced to second base by a Kevin Heller single. In the next at-bat, Jake Romanski lifted a fly to right field that Travis tagged up on, moving to third. Mario Martinez then skied a pitch in to foul territory down the right field line. Travis again held on the base until Nolan Early tracked it down just shy of the sidewall. Travis darted home before Earley could deliver the ball to home plate and the Red Sox took the lead 1-0.

Shepherd entered in relief of Wilkerson to begin the sixth. Transferred from Low-A Greenville earlier in the day, Shepherd starred in his first High-A appearance. He fanned five and allowed only two hits in three scoreless innings.

Mike Adams entered in the ninth and despite allowing a leadoff single by Trey Michalczewski, quickly shut the door to completed the shutout and earn his third save in as many opportunities.

Jace Fry was the hard luck loser for Winston-Salem. Fry (1-5) tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, striking out six with just one run scored against him.

The Red Sox climbed back over .500 pushing their mark to 18-17 with their third shutout win of the year. The Dash fell to 15-20 with the loss, losing the first of back-to-back three game series with the Red Sox 2-1. A three-game series at BB&T Ballpark begins Friday in Winston-Salem. Teddy Stankiewicz (0-4, 3.86) will start for Salem opposed by Robinson Leyer (0-4, 5.86). Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.