Salem Red Sox split two with Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Teddy Stankiewicz tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout on the back end of a quasi-doubleheader, leading the Salem Red Sox to a 3-0 win against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. Earlier in the day, Myrtle Beach rallied for a 5-1 win in the resumption of Thursday’s suspended game.

Stankiewicz (3-8) was downright dominant in the nightcap, needing just 83 pitches (60 strikes) to dispatch the Pelicans. The righthander allowed three hits in his outing, but two of the hits turned into outs as right fielder Yoilan Cerse threw out Trey Martin at second base in the third inning and Mark Zagunis at third base in the sixth inning.

As a result, Stankiewicz faced just one over the minimum in his seven innings while tying his career-high with nine strikeouts. The outing marked just the fourth complete game shutout in the Carolina League this season and the first for a Salem pitcher since Justin Haley went seven scoreless on May 16, 2014 at Carolina.

Salem provided all the offense in the game against reliever Justin Farris in the sixth inning. With runners at second and third and one down, Mario Martinez sliced a two-run single to right-center to break the scoreless tie. Later in the frame, Tzu-Wei Lin smacked a bases-loaded single into left to score Martinez, making it 3-0.

Farris (0-2) gave up three runs on three hits, two walks and a hit by pitch in just 0.2 innings. Pelican starter Jen-Ho Tseng settled for a no-decision after giving up three hits in five scoreless frames.

In game one of the de facto doubleheader, Salem inherited a 1-0 lead from Thursday’s suspended contest thanks to a Wendell Rijo home run. When the game resumed in the bottom of the fifth, Taylor Grover put together two quick outs to move the game into the sixth.

Salem’s 1-0 lead held until the last of the eighth inning, when Myrtle Beach plated five runs to race to the lead. After Mark Zagunis tied the game on a single up the middle, Jeimer Candelario provided the big blow with a three-run triple to right-center, pushing the Pelicans ahead 4-1. Candelario would then score on a sac fly from Cael Brockmeyer to account for the final margin.

Grover (2-2) allowed five runs on five hits during his 3.2 innings of relief. James Pugliese (4-1) came out of the bullpen for the Pelicans to earn the win, blanking the Sox over three frames.

Salem now will travel to Lynchburg on Saturday evening to kick off a three-game series at 6:30 p.m. Kevin McAvoy (4-6, 4.06) is scheduled to start for the Red Sox against the Hillcats’ D.J. Brown (5-3, 4.57) Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.