The Salem Red Sox will be in Fredricksburg to take on the Nationals this week as they try to pick up some ground in a tight Carolina League North Division. Fredricksburg is a farm team of the Washington Nationals.
Salem was 19-20 overall after going 2-4 in a six game homestand with the Lynchburg Hillcats last week. Despite being a game under .500 the Sox were just two and a half games behind first place Lynchburg, who improved to 21-17 by taking four of six in Salem. Carolina comes into the week a half game behind Lynchburg, Fredricksburg is a game back and Salem is fourth as just two and a half games separate the top four teams in the North.
So far, the stronger teams appear to be in the South Division this summer. Myrtle Beach leads the South at 28-11 and Charleston is two games back at 26-13. If Salem was in the South the Sox would be nine games out of first place.
Actually, the Sox are glad to be where they are after losing the first four games of last week’s homestand. They bounced back to win Saturday night, 9-5, then won a 9-8 slugfest on Sunday to salvage a second win against the Hillcats.
The Red Sox will be in Fredricksburg through Sunday, and on Monday they’re back home for one of just two Monday games for the entire season. Salem will host Columbia, a Royals affiliate, for a 1:30 pm Memorial Day afternoon special.