The Salem Red Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in game two of a doubleheader, 7-6 at LewisGale Field Tuesday night. After a 5-3 win in game one, the Red Sox swept the twinbill.
Trailing 6-4 entering the last of the seventh, Bryan Hudson walked to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Hedges then threw a Mars ground ball away for an error to put the tying run on base, and bring the winning run to the plate. Rijo singled to left field to score Hudson and advanced to second on the throw from Charcer Burks to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with one out.
With the infield in, Meyers hit a groundball that was booted by second baseman Andrew Ely, allowing Mars to score the tying run, and moving Rijo to third. Rafael Devers then singled to left field to score Rijo and win the game for Salem.
Myrtle Beach (38-38, 2-4) took the lead in the top of the second against Anyelo Leclerc, when Yasiel Balaguert launched a solo home run, and then a back-to-back double and single gave the Pelicans a 2-0 lead.
The Red Sox (47-27, 4-1) shaved the lead in half when Jose Sermo doubled against Hedges (6-6) and scored two batters later on a Ben Moore groundout.
Leclerc was touched up for two more runs in the third, his final frame in his Salem debut. The righty lasted 3.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out four.
Salem came back with a pair of runs against Hedges in the bottom of the third, when Rijo doubled home Mars, and then a Meyers sacrifice fly plated Rijo to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Yankory Pimentel replaced Leclerc, and was victimized for an unearned run in the sixth – his third inning of relief.
In the bottom of the sixth, Devers doubled against Hedges, and then Jordan Betts singled him home with two outs to cut the disadvantage to 5-4.
The Pelicans plated an additional run against Pimentel (6-3) in the top of the seventh with the help of a Jason Vosler RBI double to open up a 6-4 lead. Pimentel tossed the final 4.0 innings of the game, allowing the two runs (one earned) on four hits, walking one and striking out five.
Despite trailing by as many as three, the Sox were able to secure their third walk-off win of the season. Devers went 2-for-4 in the game with a double and the game-winning RBI.
The Red Sox’ series with Myrtle Beach concludes Wednesday night at LewisGale Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm. The Red Sox will send Travis Lakins (5-2, 5.82) to the slab. The Pelicans counter with Jonathan Martinez (3-5, 4.70). For tickets and more information, call (540) 389-3333, or slide to www.salemsox.com/tickets.