Salem wins on walkoff wild pitch

After the Lynchburg Hillcats walked off on the Salem Red Sox Monday night, the Sox returned the favor Saturday night at LewisGale Field to win, 4-3. A pitch after stealing third base with two outs in the ninth, Yoan Moncada scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Lynchburg’s Jordan Milbrath walked Bryan Hudson to open the bottom of the ninth, but he was erased two batters later when Moncada grounded into a fielder’s choice. Mauricio Dubon drew a walk and then a double steal pushed the winning run to third. Milbrath’s 2-2 pitch to Jordan Betts sailed over the head of Daniel Salters and Moncada scampered home with the winning tally.

The Red Sox (37-19) struck first in the bottom of the second against Hillcats starter Nick Pasquale. Joseph Monge walked with one out and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single by Franklin Guzman. Monge scored when Hudson laid down a safety squeeze bunt single to put the Sox up 1-0.

Lynchburg (35-20) answered back with back-to-back doubles off Daniel McGrath to open the third inning, and scored twice in the frame to take a 2-1 lead.

The Australian southpaw settled down after the two runs allowed, retiring the final 12 batters he faced. McGrath lasted 6.0 innings, allowing the two runs on four hits, striking out six and not issuing a walk.

Salem struck even, tying the game at two in the bottom of the sixth against Pasquale. Nick Longhi singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Monge triple.

The Hillcats took the lead in the top of the eighth against Mario Alcantara when Greg Allen executed a squeeze bunt to perfection with Salters on third to give the club a 3-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the eighth against Milbrath (2-3), Betts walked and two batters later, scored on a Danny Bethea double to tie the game at three. Alcantara (5-0) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning, his third frame in relief of McGrath.

For the Red Sox, it was their second walk-off win of the season. The victory dropped Salem’s magic number to clinch the South Division to seven.

The series continues on Sunday at 2pm at Calvin Falwell Field in Lynchburg. Salem will throw Jalen Beeks (4-2, 3.48), while Lynchburg has not announced a starter. Fans can follow along on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network with coverage starting at 1:45 pm.