Salem snaps skid with 5-1 win over Potomac

Kevin Heller homered, Jordan Procyshen drove in three and the Salem Red Sox never trailed as they snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Potomac Nationals 5-1 on Friday night at Pfitzner Stadium.

With the game scoreless in the second inning, Heller opened the frame with a bang. He clobbered a Reynaldo Lopez offering deep over the left field wall to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Forrestt Allday and Mario Martinez followed with singles before Procyshen spanked a double down the left field line, scoring both for a 3-0 Salem advantage.

Potomac got on the board in the third, as Estarlin Martinez singled to lead things off. With one out, he stood at third when Alec Keller lofted a fly to left, deep enough for Martinez to tag and score on a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Salem got the run back in the fourth inning. Martinez cranked a double off the wall in center and was moved to third on a Cole Sturgeon infield single. With Sturgeon moving on the pitch, Procyshen chopped a grounder to second that allowed Martinez to score from third for a 4-1 Sox lead.

In the sixth, the Red Sox again started the proceedings with a double from Martinez. Sturgeon then drove a single to right-center, plating Martinez and putting Salem up 5-1.

Martinez led the way offensively with a 3-for-4 outing featuring two doubles and three runs scored. Heller was 2-for-4 with the solo homer, Sturgeon went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Procyshen drove in three in a 1-for-3 evening.

Kevin McAvoy (6-9) dazzled over seven innings, allowing only an unearned run on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts. For the second straight start, both against Potomac, he did not allow an earned run.

Lopez (5-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings.

The win halted a six-game losing streak for Salem and improved the Red Sox record to 52-54 and 14-22 in the second half. Potomac fell to 48-56 and 15-19 in the losing effort.

The three-game series continues Saturday at 6:35 p.m. with Daniel McGrath (1-4, 3.86) starting for the Sox against Potomac’s Ian Dickson (1-0, 2.50). Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.