Webb's triple keys Frederick to 2-1 win

Frederick outdueled Salem 2-1 Thursday afternoon, an eighth-inning triple leading to the game's go-ahead run after five straight scoreless innings.

Outfielder Brenden Webb provided the biggest hit of the game, slugging the leadoff triple that went off the glove a diving Cody Koback near the warning track in center field. Sammie Starr then flew out to Koback, Webb tagged up and put Frederick ahead 2-1 in front of 4,854 at Harry Grove Stadium.

No-hit in their game with the Red Sox (15-12, 48-49) Wednesday, the Keys (11-15, 45-50) managed just four hits Thursday, but they were enough thanks to Frederick's pitchers and a few great defensive plays.

While Keys starter Zach Davies labored early, he found his rhythm in the third inning and retired the last nine batters he faced. Davies left the game after the fifth, allowing three this, a run, a walk and struck out seven. Red Sox starter Mickey Pena was just as good, allowing a run over six innings on three hits and two walks. He struck out five.

Henry Ramos led off the game with a double and put Salem ahead 1-0 when he scored two batters later on Keury De La Cruz's sacrifice fly to left field. Frederick answered in the bottom of the second when Glynn Davis walked with two outs, stole second and then Jason Esposito drove him home with a ground-rule double over Koback's head.

After the second, both teams posted zeroes on the scoreboard until the eighth. In the top of the eighth, Salem threatened to break the 1-1 tie when the Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Ashur Tolliver, but Gene Escat relieved him and got Matt Gedman to fly out to left field for the final out.

Escat (5-6) finished the game and earned the win, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing a single in the ninth. Tolliver pitched 2.2 innings, allowed three hits and three walks, but kept the Red Sox off the board. Nefi Ogando (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit and two walks in two innings.

Johnny Ruettiger was the only Key to record multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a bunt single and single to left. Esposito went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, Webb went 1-for-3 with a triple and Allan de San Miguel walked twice. Koback went 3-for-3 with a stolen base for Salem, which had seven hits on the day..

Game three of the Keys' four-game series against Salem takes place Friday at 7 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium. Keys knuckleballer Zach Clark starts against William Cuevas. For tickets, purchase online at FrederickKeys.com, by phone at 301-815-9939 or at the box office at Harry Grove Stadium.