Salem Clip Keys 5-2 Tuesday Night
Published on May 1, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
FREDERICK, MD - The Salem Red Sox took a lead before making an out and never looked back, riding a season-best three homers to a 5-2 win over the Frederick Keys at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick.
Salem (15-10) kept pace with the Potomac Nationals atop the Northern Division of the Carolina League, as the teams share possession of first place. The Keys (8-17) had plenty of scoring opportunities but struggled mightily, going 0-12 with runners in scoring position in the ballgame. The Sox improved to 4-0 against the Keys on the season.
Salem struck immediately in the top of the first against Keys starting pitcher Alex Wells (L, 0-3), who walked Santiago Espinal to lead off the game. Playing in his home state, Pasadena, Maryland native Brett Netzer cracked an opposite-field double to plate Espinal. Roldani Baldwin kept the momentum building with a single to left, and Netzer raced home to slide in safely and extend the lead to 2-0.
Frederick answered in the bottom of the first against Salem starter Darwinzon Hernandez (ND), as Randolph Gassaway worked a two-out walk off the Sox hurler. Jomar Reyes lined a double to left, scoring Gassaway and trimming the lead to 2-1.
The Sox earned the run back in the top of the second. With one out, Kyri Washington hammered a solo homer to left, his first of the year, and made it a 3-1 game. However, Frederick wouldn't go quietly. Yojhan Quevedo reached to start the bottom of the fourth when he was hit by a pitch, and Collin Woody doubled him to third. After Hernandez walked Ryan McKenna to load the bases with one away, Cole Billingsley grounded out to the right side, allowing Quevedo to hurry home and bring the Keys back to a 3-2 ballgame.
Salem wasn't done with the long-ball yet, though. In the top of the fifth, Espinal came up with two away and hammered a solo shot to left; it was his second of the year and gave the Sox a 4-2 advantage. Baldwin made his presence felt in the top of the sixth, as he led off the frame with a thunderous blast to left for a solo dinger. It was his first homer of the year, and it put the Sox ahead 5-2, where they'd stay.
Hernandez surrendered two runs on four hits and four walks while whiffing four in four innings. Daniel Gonzalez (W, 4-0) was terrific, allowing just one walk and three hits over three shutout frames while striking out four for the win. Matthew Gorst (S, 3) dominated Frederick batters, fanning five and allowing just one hit in two innings for the save.
The Sox will try to build on their momentum Wednesday night, with righty Tanner Houck answering the bell for Salem against Frederick righty Cristian Alvarado. First pitch from Harry Grove Stadium is at 7:00 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.
Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2018
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- Cease Dominates, Shuts out Hillcats in Opener - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Salem Clip Keys 5-2 Tuesday Night - Salem Red Sox
- Red Sox Hit Three Home Runs in Win over Keys - Frederick Keys
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