The Salem Red Sox tightened up the North Division second half race in the Carolina League when they opened a six game home series with Delmarva with a win in Salem Tuesday. In a rare 11 am day game the Sox took a 3-2 walkoff win in extra innings. With the win Salem climbed to within two and a half games of the Fredricksburg Nationals, who were yet to play their home game against the Carolina Mudcats Tuesday. Carolina was also two and a half back prior to that game as was Down East, making a three team log jam for second place. Salem has 30 games remaining to catch the Nationals beginning with Wednesday’s game, including six games in Fredricksburg next week.
On Tuesday at Salem Memorial Ballpark the Sox trailed 2-1 after seven innings but tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when Nelly Taylor doubled, moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch. Both teams went scoreless in the ninth, with Max Carlson coming on to pitch for the Sox.
In the top of the 10th Carlson got two strikeouts and a ground out with a man on second to start the inning. Antonio Anderson started on second base in the bottom of the 10th as Brooks Brannon grounded out to open the inning, but Andruw Musett followed with a single to score Anderson with the winning run. Taylor was four-for-five at the plate while Musett had two hits and Carlson picked up the win in relief. The Sox will host the Shorebirds, a Baltimore Orioles farm team, through Sunday with weekday games at 7:05 pm, a Saturday game at 6:05 pm and a Sunday getaway game at 3:05 pm. Tonight is Area 51 Night, fireworks are scheduled for Friday and Saturday is Marvel Night. After a day off Monday the Sox have a big six game series in Fredricksburg beginning Tuesday of next week with a chance to catch the Nationals in the North Division race.
