Strong Situational Pitching Helps Keys Fend off Sox

FREDERICK, Md.-Frederick Keys pitching worked its way around several jams, while Trey Mancini recorded his 21st multi-hit game of the year as the orange and black topped the Salem Red Sox 5-4 on Friday night at Nymeo Field. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and helped the Keys avoid a three-game sweep. Meanwhile, the victory and a loss by the Wilmington Blue Rocks moved Frederick within 2.5 games of first place in the CL North Division.

 Having never led in the entire series, the Keys grabbed its first advantage in the initial frame. Mancini provided the first salvo, with a two-run homer to left off Red Sox starter Trey Ball. Ending the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, the former Notre Dame standout made it a 2-1 affair after a triple and an RBI groundout by Salem's Tzu-Wei Lin in the top of the first.

In the third, the orange and black moved in front by two following a singles by Gregory Lorenzo, Josh Hart and Mancini as well as a sac-fly by Jeff Kemp.

Salem had chances with runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth, but David Hess held the visitors to only one additional marker in his final four innings of work. Keeping the tying run aboard at third in the fifth, the Tennessee native allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Unfortunately, Hess would leave without a win, as the Red Sox evened the score in the sixth. With one out, Cole Sturgeon singled and advanced to second on Mancini's first error of the season, while Jordan Betts followed with an RBI single to center.

A second error and a single by Jose Vinicio would load up the bases, but Hart would come up with the play of the game in centerfield. Ahead in the count 2-0 against Jon Keller, Tzu-Wei Lin lined a ball to center which Hart caught on a dive. From there, he fired to second base to double up Deiner Lopez to quash the bases loaded threat. For the night, Salem went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base.

With the game tied, the Keys grabbed the lead back in the home-sixth for good. Kemp doubled to open the inning, while a bounce out by Chance Sisco and a single by Adrian Marin brought in the go-ahead run. Later in the inning, Marin would score on a single by Anthony Caronia and an error by Vinicio at second.   

Down 5-3, Salem pulled within one in the eighth on a single, a wild pitch, a passed ball and an RBI single by Lopez, but stranded men on first and second in the ninth, as Cody Wheeler struck out the side for his seventh save. Ball (3-5) suffered the loss for the Red Sox allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out one.

The Frederick Keys begin a four-game series with the Lynchburg Hillcats on Saturday night. Left-hander Luis Gonzalez (3-3, 7.15) makes the start for the Keys and will be opposed right-hander Michael Peoples (3-3, 7.23). First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. from Nymeo Field and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and frederickkeys.com. It is Family Fitness Weekend at the ballpark presented by JoJos Taphouse, Premiere Dental Arts and Toothman Orthodontics. For tickets fans can contact the Keys at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.