The Salem Red Sox are looking to clinch a spot in the Low-A East playoffs this weekend as they host Delmarva in the final week of the regular season.
Salem comes into the week one game ahead of the Down East Wood Ducks, a Texas Rangers affiliate, in the race for the second playoffs spot. The Charleston Riverdogs, a Tampa Bay affiliate, has clinched the top seed for the two-team championship series with an 80-34 record with a week to go.
The Sox opened the week in the second spot at 69-45, but they were only one game ahead of Down East, who was 68-46. Carolina, at 65-49, and Delmarva, at 64-50, were technically still alive as of Tuesday but unlikely to catch both Salem and Down East.
Neither Salem nor Down East will have an easy schedule this week, as Salem will host Delmarva and Down East is home against Charleston. However, while Delmarva still has a punchers’ chance of making the playoffs Charleston has little incentive to win with a playoff spot in hand.
Down East cut Salem’s advantage to a game last week, taking four of six from Carolina while the Red Sox split six games with Lynchburg. This week’s games with Delmarva will start at 7:05 pm through Friday with a 6:05 pm start Saturday and a 4:05 pm first pitch for “Fan Appreciation Night” on Saturday.
This week’s promotions include Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act on Friday and Military Appreciation Night on Saturday. For Sunday’s “Fan Appreciation Night” the first 250 fans through the gate will receive a replica ballpark seat.
If Salem makes the playoffs the Red Sox will have the first two games at home, beginning either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. The remainder of the best-of-five series will be in Charleston.