SALEM, Va. – The Salem RidgeYaks (51-64, 26-24) nearly erased a nine-run deficit Thursday night, but their furious late rally came up just short in an 11-10 loss to the Wilson Warbirds (61-53, 25-23) at Carilion Clinic Field.
Salem trailed 10-1 entering the bottom of the seventh before exploding for seven runs in the frame to pull within one. The RidgeYaks then brought the winning win to the plate in the ninth, but Wilson held on to snap Salem's comeback bid.
The Warbirds struck first in the top of the third, scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead. Wilson added another run in the fifth before putting together a six-run seventh inning to build a 10-1 advantage.
Salem's comeback began with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
D'Angelo Ortiz delivered a two-run double to left field, scoring Andrews Opata and Avinson Pinto. Colton Coates followed with an RBI double to center, bringing home Ortiz.
Martin Shelar scored on a groundout by Franklin Primera to make it 10-5 before Louis Andujar capped the seven-run outburst with a two-run home run to left, his seventh of the season. The blast scored Coates and brought the RidgeYaks within 10-7.
Salem continued to chip away when wild pitches from Cesar Espinal allowed Starlyn Nunez and Opata to score, trimming Wilson's lead to 10-9.
The Warbirds answered with a run in the eighth to make it 11-9.
Salem again threatened in the ninth. Coates reached base and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Nunez, pulling the RidgeYaks within 11-10 with two outs. Wilson, however, retired the final batter to preserve the victory.
Andrews Opata finished 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two walks, while Ortiz went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Coates added a 1-for-4 performance with two runs scored, an RBI and a double.
Andujar provided Salem's biggest hit of the night, going 1-for-5 with a two-run homer and two RBIs.
The RidgeYaks initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Anderson Fermin lined a single to left field to score Opata.
Wilson's Trey Ebel tied the game in the third with a groundout that scored Pedro Ibarguen before Juan Ortuno's two-run double gave the Warbirds a 3-1 lead.
Brailyn Antunez drove in another run in the fifth, then helped ignite Wilson's six-run seventh with an RBI single. Antunez scored twice in the inning, while Filippo Di Turi and Ibarguen also drove in runs during the frame.
Salem starter Williams Montero (0-3) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in 2.2 innings. Wilson reliever Cesar Espinal (2-0) earned the win after working two innings in relief, while Gaines recorded the save (1).
The RidgeYaks finished with nine hits and left five runners on base. Wilson collected eight hits but took advantage of nine walks and three Salem errors.
The RidgeYaks and Warbirds continue their six-game series Friday night at Carilion Clinic Field. The Yaks’ leader in strikeouts, innings pitched and wins Leighton Finley makes the start against Tyler Renz for Wilson.
Game Notes
- Salem’s eighth-run seventh inning was the most runs the Yaks have scored in a single-inning all season
- Salem has scored seven or more in three innings this season with two of which coming this week
- Louis Andujar’s seventh inning home run was his seventh of the season and his seventh in the last 32 games
- Salem has now hit 98 home runs this season as a team, the most in a single-season since 2022 and the second-most in a single-season in the modern day record (since 2005)
- The Yaks need six more home runs to break the modern day single-season home run record (103 in 2021)
- The RidgeYaks are now 7-2 in home games against the Warbirds
- In those games the Yaks have outscored the Warbirds 81-34 in those nine games and have outscored the Birds 55-18 in their last four meetings in Salem
- In 21 games against the Warbirds this season, Salem has scored 142 runs in those games averaging 6.76 runs per game against Wilson this season
- In nine of the last 13 meetings between these teams the winning club has seen double-digit runs
- With the loss and Fayetteville win, Salem moves to 3.5 games out of first place with 16 games to play
- Andrews Opata went 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to eight games since August 8
- Andujar also reached base for the 17th consecutive game since July 22