Troy Stokes Jr. was 3-for-3 with three runs, a grand slam and four RBIs on Tuesday night
Salem, VA – Troy Stokes Jr. was 3-for-3 with a grand slam, Nate Griep earned his league leading 13th save and Freddy Peralta earned his first win as the Mudcats snapped a three game losing streak with a 6-3 win in Salem at Haley Toyota Field on Tuesday night.
Stokes singled and scored a run in the first and scored again in the third after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. His two runs lifted the Mudcats (34-30) to a 2-0 lead in the third before the Red Sox (40-35) rallied back with a three run fourth. Salem led 4-3 through the fifth until Stokes blasted his grand slam in the sixth to give his club a 6-3 lead.
Stokes was 3-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch while reaching base in all five of his at-bats. The grand slam was the first of his professional career and counted for his team best tenth home run of the season. Lucas Erceg also had a solid night at the plate after going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the road win for Carolina.
Daniel McGrath allowed the Stokes grand slam and suffered the loss out of the bullpen for the Red Sox. He walked three and had also record two outs in the sixth before the grand slam. McGrath (1-6, 7.06) gave up four runs on one hit and struck out three over two innings pitched.
Peralta (1-3, 3.04) scattered just two hits over five innings, but allowed three runs and walked six while earning his first victory of the season. He also struck out five and threw 97 pitches (50 strikes) in his start.
Salem originally took a 3-2 lead on Peralta in the third after taking advantage of two walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches in the inning. Granger Studdard capped the rally with a two-run single with two-outs in the third for the Red Sox.
Quintin Torres-Costa followed Peralta and worked through three scoreless while earning his second hold of the season. Torres-Costa (H, 2) struck out four and gave up just two hits while facing 11 in his appearance.
Griep (S, 13) then worked the ninth and finished the game by facing just three and striking out one.
Shaun Anderson started for Salem and gave up two runs on four hits over four innings pitched. He also walked four and struck out four, but did not earn a decision. The Red Sox also used relievers Adam Lau (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Jordan Weems (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO).
The series will conclude on Wednesday night with left-hander Kodi Medeiros (3-4, 5.05) on the mound for the Mudcats. Wednesday’s series finale will begin at 7:05 p.m. at Haley Toyota Field in Salem, VA.
