Eric Skoglund struck out eight Salem Red Sox across seven strong innings and led the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 4-1 win on Monday night at Frawley Stadium. Salem saw its three-game winning streak come to an end in the process.
Skoglund (6-2), a Carolina League All-Star, retired the first eight batters he faced before Jose Vinicio doubled with two outs in the top of the third inning. The southpaw then set down the next seven batters and faced just one over the minimum heading into the seventh inning.
Sam Travis led off the seventh with a single for Salem, moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Skoglund, and scored on a Wendell Rijo sacrifice fly for the only blemish against the Wilmington starter.
Skoglund allowed just the unearned tally on four hits in seven innings before giving way to Luis Rico, who set down all six batters he faced to earn his second save of the season.
Teddy Stankiewicz pitched well for Salem, tossing his sixth quality start of the year. The Blue Rocks got to Stankiewicz (1-8) in the third inning after putting two runners in scoring position with one down on an error, single and sac bunt. Ramon Torres then snuck a grounder inside the first base line for a two-run double, giving the Blue Rocks a 2-0 lead. The runs snapped a string of 25.1 straight scoreless innings by Red Sox pitching.
Wilmington added a tally in the sixth inning on Cody Stubbs’ sacrifice fly that drove home Mauricio Ramos, who had tripled to lead off the inning. Stankiewicz departed after six frames, allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits with one strikeout and no walks.
Chandler Shepherd yielded a run in the seventh inning on an RBI’s fielder’s choice from Torres, giving Wilmington the 4-1 lead they would eventually win by.
The series continues on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. Kevin McAvoy (4-5, 3.86) will toe the rubber for Salem against Wilmington’s Jake Junis (3-5, 3.88). Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
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Chris Graham
