The Sox failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities throughout the ballgame, and the visiting Indians bombarded the Red Sox with a seven-run eighth-inning to break open an otherwise tight contest, surging Kinston to an 11-1 triumph on Thursday night at LewisGale Field. Clayton Cook pitched in and out of trouble through six and two-thirds innings, allowing just one run on nine hits to improve to 8-8 on the season, while Drake Britton’s early promise fizzled, walking five in four and a third after an efficient start to fall to 1-12 on the year.
Salem mustered baserunners in each of the first three innings, but the contest remained scoreless into the fourth. Kinston used a pair of walks and a single from Jesus Aguilar to load the bases against Britton, and Roberto Perez hammered a 1-2, two-out delivery into center to break the scoreless draw, vaulting the Tribe to a 2-0 lead. One inning later, Britton walked two of the first three batters and was given the hook. On a wild pitch tossed by reliever Pete Ruiz, Tyler Holt scurried home to give the Indians a 3-0 edge.
Salem scored its only tally in the last of the fifth, with Peter Hissey’s RBI single inching the Sox back within two. Kolbrin Vitek singled to load the bases with one out, but Bryce Brentz lined out and Jorge Padron grounded out softly to squander the opportunity.
The Indians added to their lead in the seventh with consecutive one-out doubles from Jeremie Tice and Aguilar making it 4-1. In the eighth, the Tribe broke it open, using seven hits and one hit-batter to score seven times. Jordan Casas and Adam Abraham each drove in two runs in the explosive inning, joining Aguilar and Perez with two RBI apiece on the night.
Salem managed ten hits, but left ten men on base, finishing 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Contrastingly, Kinston delivered 15 hits, received eight walks, left ten on base, but went 9-for-19 with runners in scoring position.
Down 4-1 in the last of the seventh, both Vitek and Brentz batted representing the tying run, but came up empty against the Cook and reliever Kyle Landis, who earned his second save of the year with two and a third scoreless out of the pen.
The Sox and Tribe meet again on Friday night, and Salem will send lefthander Manny Rivera to the mound for his Carolina League debut. The Indians will counter with Francisco Jimenez, with the first pitch slated for 7:05.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to a conflict with Washington Redskins preseason football, Friday’s Salem Sox action will be heard exclusively on the web, streaming live for free at www.salemsox.com.
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