SALEM, VA - Salem's Bobby Dalbec hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth while giving the Red Sox their first lead of the night as Salem rallied back late to defeat the Mudcats 5-3 on Friday night at Haley Toyota Field in Salem.
SALEM, VA - Salem's Bobby Dalbec hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth while giving the Red Sox their first lead of the night as Salem rallied back late to defeat the Mudcats 5-3 on Friday night at Haley Toyota Field in Salem.
The Mudcats (5-3, 39-39) scored twice in the top of the eighth while taking a 3-0 lead late in the game, but the Red Sox (4-4, 36-40) rallied back with five runs in the last of eighth while erasing the late deficit and winning the game 5-3. Carolina fell a game shy of a four game sweep with the loss and saw their win streak snap at four straight games.
Relievers Alec Kenilvort and Luke Barker pitched the eighth for Carolina and ended up combining to allow five runs and five hits in the game changing inning. Barker (L, 4-2, 1.86) ended up allowing Dalbec's eventual game-winning home run and suffered his first blown save of the season. It was also Carolina's first blown save since May 25.
Victor Diaz started the game for the Mudcats and turned in his best start of the season while working through seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. He also scattered two hits, walked one and pitched to an 83 game score while reaching 92 pitches (62 strikes).
Kenilvort started the eighth by allowing a lead-off, solo home run to Ryan Scott, before then allowing a single to Nick Sciortino and getting a groundout from Chris Madera. Tyler Hill followed with a single behind second and with runners at the corners, the Mudcats then brought in Barker for the five out save.
Salem's Brad Netzer immediately greeted Barker with a run scoring single to right while cutting the lead down to 3-2. Barker then struck out C.J. Chatham for the inning's second out, but then gave up Dalbec's three-run shot while losing the lead and allowing the Red Sox to go up for the first time 5-3. Dalbec's homer was his 15th of the season and came on a 2-2 pitch with two-outs in the eighth.
Dalbec went 2-for-3 with a run, three RBI and his game winning three-run home run in the game. He also committed two errors, with his first leading to a run for the Mudcats in the fourth. The error allowed Dallas Carroll to score from third and with two outs in the fourth while Carolina took a 1-0 lead.
The lone fourth inning run was the only one allowed by Salem's starter Daniel Gonzalez in Friday's series finale. Gonzalez pitched through the seventh and allowed just four hits. He also walked two and struck out two in a no-decision.
The Mudcats eventually rallied for two more runs in the game once Gonzalez departed. Yankory Pimentel replaced Gonzalez and first gave up a single to Joangtel Segovia before then allowing a run scoring double to Carroll. Demi Orimoloye then reached on Dalbec's second error of the game. A catching error at first on a failed pick off attempt followed, thus allowing Carroll to score from third.
Jared Oliver eventually replaced Pimentel in the eighth and was able to get Salem out of the inning without any future damage. Carolina scored twice, had two hits, but left the bases loaded in the eighth while taking their 3-0 lead.
Jake Cosart later pitched the ninth and with Salem leading 5-3, would go on to earn the save after pitching a scoreless final frame.
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