SALEM, Va. — A late rally closed the gap but not enough to overcome the host Salem RidgeYaks, who handed the Wilson Warbirds their fourth straight defeat, 5-4, in the Single-A Carolina League professional baseball series Friday night, April 11.
The Warbirds (2-5) pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth inning at Salem Memorial Stadium, using a single by second baseman Luis Lameda and a double by shortstop Juan Ortuno — but was half their hits total for the game. Wilson, which ranks at or near the bottom of the Carolina League in every batting statistical category, had just four hits and 13 strikeouts. Jose Anderson, whose sacrifice fly scored Ortuno in the ninth, doubled in Lameda in the third inning for Wilson’s first run.
But the Warbirds already trailed after the RidgeYaks (6-1) bruised Wilson starter Enderson Mercado for two runs in the bottom of the first. Salem catcher Kleyvar Salazar doubled in a run then scored on a balk by Mercado…