Salem Red Sox jump out to early lead, cruise past Carolina Mudcats in season opener
Sean Godfrey hit a two-run home run in the third inning and Dansby Swanson was 2-for-4 with an RBI, but a five-run, first inning deficit allowed by starter Enderson Franco proved insurmountable as the Mudcats lost 13-4 in Salem to the Red Sox on Thursday night.
Franco (0-1) allowed nine earned runs and 12 hits while pitching into the third and took the loss. He allowed five Red Sox (1-0) runs in the first, one in the second and three of the five scored in the third.
Salem’s Andrew Bentintendi collected hits in each of the first three innings and finished the game 4-for-5 with a double, triple, three RBIs and two runs in the game. Bentintendi was a home run shy of the cycle in the Salem victory. Yoan Moncada was 2-for-4 and Danny Mars was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Red Sox as well.
The Mudcats (0-1) trailed 5-0 after the first inning and 6-0 before Godfrey’s home run in the third off Salem starter Daniel McGrath. The Red Sox answered with five more runs in the third and jumped out to an 11-5 lead before the fourth.
McGrath (1-0) pitched through the sixth and allowed just three runs on four hits while earning the win.
Godfrey’s two-run homer in the third was his first of two extra-base hits in the game. He also tripled and scored a run in the sixth inning. Swanson was 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his Carolina League debut and Braves’ system debut. Keith Curcio was 2-for-4 and Joseph Daris was 1-for-4 with a double in the loss for Carolina.
Relievers Wes Parsons, Carlos Salazar, Raymar Navarro and Zach Quintana followed Franco in the game for the Mudcats.
Parsons took over during the third and finished the game with one earned run and five hits allowed over 2 1/3 innings pitched. Salazar relieved Parsons in the sixth and escaped the inning unscathed despite inheriting a bases-loaded jam. He finished his first appearance of the season with allowing a run over 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Navarro worked the seventh and allowed two runs (one earned) in an inning of work. Quintana then finished the game with a three-up-three-down eighth.
The Mudcats and Red Sox continue their season opening four-game series with Game 2 on Friday night in Salem. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will feature LHP Ryan Lawlor starting for Carolina against Salem’s RHP Travis Lakins.
Thursday’s box score
Carolina Mudcats | ab | r | h | bi |
Godfrey, DH | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Obregon, 2B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Swanson, SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Edgerton, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Davidson, RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Meneses, 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Curcio, CF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Odom, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Daris, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Totals | 35 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
Salem Red Sox | ab | r | h | bi |
Moncada, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Dubon | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Benintendi | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Longhi, 1B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Devers, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mars, RF | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Procyshen, DH | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Guzman, DH | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Meyers, LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Totals | 40 | 13 | 18 | 12 |
Carolina | 002 | 001 | 010 | — | 4 | 8 | 4 |
Salem | 515 | 000 | 20X | — | 13 | 18 | 1 |
E — Curcio, Swanson, Daris, Dubon. DP–Carolina 1, Salem 0. LOB–Carolina 5, Salem 10. 2B–Daris, Swanson, Procyshen, Benintendi. 3B–Godfrey, Dubon, Benintendi. HR—Godfrey (1). SF–Mars, Procyshen. SB–Moncada (1), Procyshen (1), Guzman (1). PO—Meneses
Carolina IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Franco (L, 0-1) | 2 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
Parsons | 2 1/3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Salazar | 1 2/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Navarro | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Quintana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Salem IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
McGrath (W, 1-0) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Taveras | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Grover | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Salem Red Sox jump out to early lead, cruise past Carolina Mudcats in season opener."