The Salem RidgeYaks have hit the road and won’t be home again until July 17. Salem will have a six-game series in Augusta this week followed by six games in Columbia from July 7-12.
The reason for the back-to-back road trips is the annual Salem Fair, which covers the Taliaferro Complex parking lot beginning this week. The team is out of town while the Fair is in town, and then all Carolina League teams are off for the Major League Baseball All-Star break from July 13-16. Salem finally returns with a three game homestand against Delmarva on July 17.
The Yaks are off to a 4-5 start to the second half of the Carolina League split season. After opening the second half in Fredricksburg the Yaks returned home last week to host the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Chicago Cubs farm team. The Yaks lost three of the first four games against the Pelicans but bounced back to sweep the weekend games, 8-5 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday.
On Saturday the Yaks were down 5-3 when they came from behind with a five-spot in the bottom of the seventh, all with two outs. Louis Andujar drove in two runs and tie the score. Andujar then scored on a throwing error to give Salem the lead at 6-5 and D’Angelo Ortiz knocked in two for some insurance and an 8-5 lead. Adam Bates got the win in relief and Joey Gartell struck out the side in the ninth for the save.
On Sunday the Yaks walked off the Pelicans for a series split. Salem led 6-4 after eight innings but Myrtle Beach tied the game, 6-6, in the top of the ninth on a two-run homer by Yahil Melendez. Salem loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and Starlyn Nunez walked it off with a single for the win. Nicolas De La Cruz, who blew the save in the top of the ninth, ended up with the win to even his record at 3-3.
With the win the Yaks were just a game behind first place in the early stages of the CL North second half standings. First half winner Fredricksburg and Fayetteville were tied atop the North and Salem, Wilson and Delmarva were all one game back heading into Tuesday’s games.
On Friday of last week Boston sent former Salem High School pitcher Ethan Walker to the Florida Coast League Red Sox for a rehab assignment. There’s a good chance Walker could be back with the Yaks by the time they return home on July 17.
