After twice being down to their final strike in the top of the ninth, the Indians rallied from four runs down to send the game into extras, prevailing 9-7 in 13 innings over the Red Sox on Saturday night at LewisGale Field. Casey Frawley’s pinch-hit double off Will Latimer plated two to even the score at seven, and the Sox squandered a glorious opportunity in the last of the ninth, losing a runner at home and then coming up empty with the bases loaded and one out. Kinston managed just one baserunner in the first three extra innings, but loaded the bases in the 13th, and Jesus Aguilar crossed on a wild pitch to give the K-Tribe their first lead of the night. Moments later, Roberto Perez’ sac fly made it 9-7, and the Sox stranded a pair, two of their season-high 14 left on base, in the last of the 13th inning.
The improbable comeback prevented Salem starter Chris Hernandez from earning his 11th victory. The Sox southpaw permitted an unearned run in the first, then held the Indians scoreless until Jeremie Tice clobbered a two-run homer in the seventh. But even after the dinger, Hernandez departed following six and a third excellent innings, surrendering just three runs (two earned), leaving with a 7-3 lead. The Salem bullpen could not hang on, however, as Michael Gleason was charged with three runs, Will Latimer allowed the game-tying double and was charged with one run, and newcomer T.J Hose took the loss, giving up the game-winning runs in the 13th, his second inning of work in his Red Sox debut.
The remarkable turnaround for the K-Tribe also muddied a worthy offensive performance for the Red Sox, who matched a season-high with 17 hits. Salem scored all seven of their runs in the first four innings, though, managing nothing over the final nine frames against a quintet of Kinston relievers. Toru Murata, Preston Guilmet, Jose Flores, and Kyle Landis each tossed two scoreless innings, with Landis earning the victory to improve his perfect record to 8-0.
Bryce Brentz and Miles Head delivered back-to-back homers for the Red Sox in a four-run first inning against Indians starter Marty Popham, in which six straight Salem batters recorded hits to begin the game. Popham lasted just two and a third, chased after another run crossed in the bottom of the third to give Salem a 5-1 lead. Nick Sarainades replaced Popham and the Sox bashed him for two more runs in the last of the fourth to obtain the 7-1 edge. But Sarainades dealt a scoreless fifth, starting a trend of shutdown innings for the Kinston pen.
Brentz finished 4-7 with three RBI, while Head and Peter Hissey each registered three-hit nights for the Red Sox. Four Indians managed two hit-games, including Frawley, who doubled as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and again in the 12th. Perez went 1-5 for Kinston, but led the Tribe with three RBI.
The 13-inning marathon matched Salem’s longest contest in terms of innings, equaling the July 16 loss to Myrtle Beach. The evening lasted four hours and 28 minutes from first pitch to final out, becoming Salem’s longest game of the season.
The Sox and Indians meet for the final time on Sunday afternoon at 4:05, with Ryan Pressly scheduled to face T.J. House in the series finale.
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