Frederick Comeback Falls Short, Salem Wins 8-5

SALEM, VA - Down 6-0 entering the sixth inning, Frederick scored five unanswered runs, but couldn't complete the comeback at LewisGale Field against the Salem Red Sox in an 8-5 loss in the first game of the series.

Dylan Bundy (0-1) toed the rubber for his third rehab start for the Keys. He tossed 4+ innings and gave up six earned runs on six hits. The righty gave up a pair of runs in the second and fifth frames, and a single run in each of the third and fourth innings.

Frederick nearly tied the game in the eighth, as Adrian Marin homered, his third of the season, off Salem reliever Kyle Martin with two outs to make it 6-5 Red Sox. Steel Russell followed with a single, his second hit of the game. The next batter, Jerome Pena, rolled a ball to shallow third that was thrown away by Mario Martinez down the right field line, but Aneury Tavarez fired home and retired Russell trying to score from first to end the threat.

Justin Haley (7-3) dominated through five innings, but fell apart in the sixth. The righty, making his fourth appearance and third start against the Keys, scattered two hits through the first five frames. Meanwhile, his offense backed him up with six runs.

In the second, three straight batters recorded a hit. Carson Blair singled, Kendrick Perkins doubled high off the left-center field fence, and Mario Martinez brought that pair home with a single for a 2-0 Salem advantage.

The Red Sox added a run in the third on an RBI groundout by Jantzen Witte and another in the fourth on a Tavarez RBI sacrifice fly. Bundy was charged with two more runs in the fifth after the first two batters reached against him, one being an RBI single. Jimmy Yacabonis, who pitched two scoreless innings, allowed one inherited runner to score to make it 6-0 Salem.

The Keys started the comeback in the sixth against Haley. Lucas Herbst reached on a full count walk, and Michael Burgess singled to place two runners on with one out. Haley was replaced by Madison Younginer after the Burgess knock. After Jason Esposito struck out, Brenden Webb laced a two-bagger to right field for a two runs, and Russell knocked him home two batters later to cut the Keys deficit in half to 6-3.

Then came the eighth, as the Keys were trying to complete their largest come-from-behind victory of the season. Instead, they dropped their fourth game in a row. After failing to tie it up after Russell was thrown out at home to end the top of the eight, Gene Escat allowed two runs to score in the bottom of the eighth for Salem to hold on 8-5.

Tomorrow is game two of the three-game set in Salem, Va. The Keys throw RHP Brady Wager (3-7, 5.89), while Salem is slated to throw RHP Pat Light (3-4, 5.53). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., while the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source.