Salem Red Sox take rubber match with Wilmington, 4-3

Behind a career-best seven innings from righthander William Cuevas, the Salem Red Sox snuck past the Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-3 on Sunday afternoon to snag a victory in the rubber match of the three-game set at Frawley Stadium. Cuevas retired the first 11 batters he faced and permitted just one run on seven hits in his seven-inning performance. Offensively, Tim Roberson launched his first Carolina League homer, a three-run missile against Blue Rocks starter Kyle Zimmer in the first inning. Deven Marrero added three hits and scored Salem’s fourth run on a wild pitch in the third inning, a tally that proved pivotal in the narrow final outcome.

Cuevas dealt 57 of his 88 pitches for strikes, scattering three hits and one walk over his scintillating start. Perfect in the first, second, third, and sixth innings, he allowed a solo homer to Lane Adams in the fourth, the lone blemish to his otherwise sterling stat line. The 22-year-old from Venezuela has now won each of his last three starts, in which he’s allowed just three runs on 13 hits over 19 innings.

While Zimmer defeated the Red Sox on June 12 for his first Carolina League win, the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft struggled against Salem again on Sunday. He walked Henry Ramos to start the first, and Marrero picked up the first of his three singles to put two runners on with nobody out. Zimmer bounced back to strike out Keury De La Cruz and Brandon Jacobs, but Roberson smashed a three-run jack with two away to boost the Sox to a 3-0 lead.

Marrero’s second hit led off the third inning, and after a De La Cruz single moved him to second, he stole third and later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Sox ahead 4-0. Meanwhile, De La Cruz’ base hit extended his streak to 19 consecutive games, the longest streak in the Carolina League in 2013.

Nate Striz closed the deal for the Sox, allowing two runs (one earned) in the eighth, but dealing a scoreless ninth to secure his fifth save and Salem’s 35^th win. The victory improved the Sox to 2-1 in the second half, guaranteeing that Salem will at least share the lead in the Southern Division heading into Monday’s matchup with Winston-Salem.

The Sox and Dash are ready for a four-game set this week in North Carolina, with night games Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday sandwiching a noon game on Wednesday. Salem’s Mike Augliera will take the mound in the series opener, while Winston will counter with righty Chris Bassitt. First pitch is slated for 7 PM.