Salem Swept by Frederick with 6-4 Loss Thursday
FREDERICK, MD (Thursday, August 31, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox couldn't right the ship in a must-win game Thursday night, as they got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but lost 6-4 to the Frederick Keys at Harry Grove Stadium.As they lost for the fourth straight
FREDERICK, MD (Thursday, August 31, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox couldn't right the ship in a must-win game Thursday night, as they got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but lost 6-4 to the Frederick Keys at Harry Grove Stadium.
As they lost for the fourth straight game, the Sox (32-34, 71-63) continued to struggle with run-scoring chances, going just 2-14 with runners in scoring position; in 20 losses since July 27, they've batted .158 in such opportunities. Frederick (34-32, 65-70) took firm control of the wild card race in the Northern Division and earned the tiebreaker against the Sox as they swept Salem for the first time since July 7-10 at Salem. Salem would need to be three games better than the Keys over the final four games of the season to earn the playoff spot. Salem starting pitcher
Salem got the scoring going in the top of the second against Frederick starting pitcher
Frederick drew even in the bottom of the second against Kent, who walked leadoff man
The Keys moved ahead in the bottom of the third inning.
Salem got even in the top of the fourth inning.
Frederick threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Rifaela singled with two away and Davis belted a fly to deep center. But Matheny showed off his tremendous defensive ability, galloping back to the warning track and leaping to make the catch for the third out before slamming into the wall. The play energized the Red Sox, as Nunez came to the plate to lead off the top of the sixth inning and smashed a fastball from reliever Franderlin Romero over the right field wall, tying the game at 4-4.
The Keys added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, as Cooney gave up a leadoff single to
Kent took a no-decision in his 28th start of the season, a record in Salem baseball history for a left-hander. He gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings, fanning three. Cooney took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while whiffing two in 1.1 innings.
The Sox will open their final series of the regular season Friday night, as they return home to face the Winston-Salem Dash in a four-game set. Righty