Five Runs in First Three Innings Enough, Keys Win 5-3

SALEM, VA - The Frederick Keys plated all five runs they scored through the first three frames, but it was all they needed in a 5-3 win at LewisGale Field against the Salem Red Sox on Thursday evening. The win forces a rubber match tomorrow before the Keys head home on Saturday.

The Keys plated one in the first and two runs apiece in the second and third innings to back Brady Wager (4-7), who won for the second time in three straight starts against the Red Sox. Wager tossed five innings of three-run, four-hit baseball.

In the first, Glynn Davis recorded a leadoff single on a payoff pitch from Salem starter Pat Light (3-5). After Tucker Nathans and Trey Mancini struck out looking, Michael Burgess walked. With two on, Jason Esposito roped one through the left side for an RBI and a 1-0 Keys advantage.

In the second, Davis knocked in Wynston Sawyer, who walked with one out to extend his on-base streak to 26 games. Nathans ripped one through to score Jerome Pena, who doubled after Sawyer walked. That allowed the Keys to take a 3-0 lead.

Wager allowed his first run in the bottom of the second, as Carson Blair tripled to straightaway center and was brought home an Aneury Tavarez grounder to second. Frederick continued to feast on Light in the third inning though, scoring twice more for a 5-1 cushion. The first three batters belted hits, including a Burgess single and Esposito double. With two runners in scoring position, Brenden Webb doubled in both runners for the Keys to lead by four.

Those would be the last runs Frederick would score, but it was enough behind the arms of Wager and reliever Dennis Torres. Salem scored one in the third on an RBI single by Michael Miller and another in the fourth on Dreily Guerrero's groundout, but that would be the last run of the game.

Torres entered in the sixth inning and fooled the Salem bats all night. The righty earned his second save, as he threw a season-high-tying four innings, allowed three hits, and struck out a trio. He faced the minimum from the sixth through eighth innings before running into trouble in the ninth.

Salem, without a win this year when entering the ninth inning behind to an opponent, scratched two straight singles against Torres with one out. Matt Gedman, who played with Torres at the University of Massachusetts, was called upon to pinch-hit for Guerrero. The Keys reliever was able to win the battle of the Minutemen by inducing a 4-6-3 game-ending double play.

Frederick snaps a four-game losing skid with the victory and go for the series win tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. RHP Parker Bridwell (4-7, 4.27) throws for the Keys against Salem RHP Joe Gunkel (1-2, 3.81). Frederick returns home Saturday at 6 p.m. for a three-game set against Winstom-Salem. For ticket information, call the Keys box office at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com for more information.