Katie Larrington
In attempt to get over .500 for the second half of the season, the Salem Red Sox played host to the Potomac Nationals for game two on Monday evening. To say Salem had a case of the Mondays would be respectfully cliché but, with their recent on-again-off-again play, tonight was one of those off nights as they fell to Potomac 5-2.
Dropping their fourth straight game in a matter of five days, Salem hasn’t been used to playing so well yet not coming away with wins. Now, three and a half games behind Carolina for the final playoff spot, the Sox will be ready to put the month of July behind them and go into August hoping to catch a few of the breaks that didn’t go their way towards the end of July.
On what was a fairly slow start to the night, in terms of runs and hits, both the Sox and Nationals were playing good defense along with both pitchers accurately hitting their spots.
For Salem, it was Stefan Welch with an RBI in the sixth inning that began a short-lived run by the middle of the batting order. After an error from Potomac, Keury De La Cruz was able to steal home and decrease the deficit to one run.
But, Salem didn’t reach home plate for the remainder of the night.
The P-Nats logged runs in the last two innings to push the score to 5-2 making the comeback process for Salem much more challenging.
Outing hitting Salem, 10 to 6, Potomac simply made more of their opportunities throughout the course of the game and never once gave up the lead after taking it early in the third inning with one run.
Considering the circumstances for Salem, the remainder of their games will have a playoff-feel embedded into them as the Sox continue to fight night in and night out for that final playoff position.
On Tuesday it will be RHP William Cuevas taking the mound in the final matchup of the year between Salem and Potomac. Dropping the last two against the P-Nats, Salem will be looking to avoid the sweep and head into their off day with a win.
Following tomorrow night’s game, Salem will go to Lynchburg this weekend for a three-game series and then will be back in Salem early next week for six straight home games against Wilmington and Winston-Salem ending on Saturday, August 10.