Salem Red Sox play up to the crowd in completing three-game sweep

The big crowd showed up, expecting the best. And the Salem Red Sox gave it to them.

In front of a festive throng of 4,350, the Sox beat Potomac 6-4 on Tuesday to complete a three-game sweep in the Mills Cup Championship Series and give the city its first Carolina League title since 2001.

Former Virginia Tech ace Matt Price coaxed a ground out to third to end it, setting off a wild celebration near the mound and in the stands.

“Man, my original plan was to go over the fence, but I’m pretty injury prone,” joked DH Sean Coyle, who came off the disabled list on the day this series started and wound up taking MVP honors. “So I decided to take the stairs, which was a safe alternative.

“I ended up on the right side of the pile, I think on top of [David] Chester, then maybe jumped on [Kyle] Stroup’s shoulders. I don’t know. I was just looking for the biggest guy to get as high as I could. I ended up on top of everybody.”

Salem ended up on top of this league by winning each of its last 11 games and overmatching a Nationals team that finished 84-56 (including playoffs) and won the Northern Division crown in both halves.

“This is a really unique feeling for me,” said normally reserved manager Billy McMillon. “I’ve never been the last team standing. This is really awesome.”

The fans apparently thought so, too. After a regular season that featured sagging attendance as a major part of the narrative, Salem drew the two biggest crowds of any of the four playoff teams — 4,047 in Game 1 of the Southern Division Championship Series, then an even larger number on Tuesday.

Fans clapped ThunderStix and cheered every big moment, including when Price took the mound to try to close it out.

“It was unreal,” third baseman Stefan Welch said. “This is the best crowd I’ve ever seen here. It was a lot of fun, especially those last couple innings when Pricey was throwing. I had goosebumps at the end.”

Price, who went 6-0 with a 2.41 ERA in the regular season, was his typical composed self while tossing two scoreless innings to save the win for William Cuevas.

“I always want the ball,” Price said. “I like that situation. I feel like it suits me, and I’m thankful that Billy and [pitching coach Kevin] Walker have confidence in me.

“I’m just so thankful, man. It’s been an amazing season.”

Salem sprinted out to a 6-1 lead after a four-run fourth inning that featured Coyle’s second two-run double of the game. Coyle finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs — matching a Salem playoff record for RBIs set in 1987 — and drove in seven runs in the three games.

“It’s something that I’m proud of, but it’s just icing on the cake right now,” Coyle said of the MVP award. “Any one of these guys could have won the MVP. … I love this team. This is my favorite team I’ve ever played on.”

Sox pitchers entered Game 3 with a 0.95 ERA in this series. While Cuevas wasn’t quite as dominant, he was effective, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. He left with a 6-3 lead.

Chester had two hits for the Sox, as did Nick Natoli. Mookie Betts singled in the fourth to reach base for the 35th consecutive game.

“It was great,” Betts said. “From the beginning, I saw that it was a big crowd, and I was like, ‘We’ve got to win it for them.’

“To win it in front of this big crowd with this group of guys is just an amazing thing.”

Weather Journal

2 days ago

1. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

2. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

3. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

4. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

5. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

6. Roanoke resource officer's quick action saved young girl

7. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations

8. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech

10. Blacksburg lawyer Painter’s bond revoked