Betts, Gedman lead Salem to title

The last time someone named Mookie and a player named Gedman were involved in a big Red Sox game, it didn't go so well for them. It was a different story Thursday.

Mookie Betts was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Matthew Gedman doubled three times while plating four runs as Class A Advanced Salem routed Frederick, 10-1, to clinch the Carolina League Southern Division second-half crown..

The Red Sox jumped all over the Keys early, scoring nine runs through the first four innings. Betts and Gedman were right in the middle of the action, with Betts singling and stealing second before scoring on Gedman's double in the second.

The son of former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman then doubled home two runs in the third and collected his last RBI two-bagger in the fourth. The performance didn't come as a surprise to Gedman's manager, Billy McMillon.

"He's been a steady contributor all year, it's not that unusual for him to come up with the big hit," the former Major Leaguer said. "He just went out there and gave us some offensive punch early. He would say that he went out there and tried to do his best to contribute and keep us in the ballgame."

Betts, Boston's No. 16 prospect, walked and scored in the third. He drove in a run with a forceout and then crossed the plate in the fourth as well.

"Mookie's been a really steady performer for us since he came up," McMillon said. "Any time there's a midseason callup, you're not sure what you're going to get. It's nice to see a guy blossoming and developing as a baseball player."

Betts joined Salem in July and has not stopped hitting since then, batting .326 with seven homers and 34 RBIs in 48 games for the Red Sox. Overall, the 20-year-old second baseman is batting .308, second among Red Sox Minor Leaguers and has stolen 37 bases.

Despite wrapping up a division title and clinching their first finish above .500 since 2010, Salem only sports one Carolina League Postseason All-Star, outfielder Keury De La Cruz, who is second in the league with 89 RBIs.

"I think there's been steady contributions from everyone," McMillon said. "It hasn't been a situation where one person puts the team on his back. Everybody contributes. We don't know who's going to contribute today or tomorrow, but so long as guys are in position to do that, then that gives them the opportunity to help the ballclub."

Luis Diaz notched his second win after giving up five hits and striking out six over seven innings for the Red Sox.

Other clinchings:

Kingsport 9, Bluefield 1

It was a night of firsts in Kingsport. K-Mets center fielder Champ Stuart led off the game with his first professional home run en route to falling a triple shy of the cycle. Kingsport added two runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings before Adrian Abreu capped the scoring with his first home run of the season in the eighth. Gaby Almonte picked up the win with six three-hit innings in his first Appy League appearance, and Edioglis Villasmil pitched three hitless innings for his first save.

The K-Mets clinches the Appy League West with the win, their first division crown since 1996. The loss also drops Bluefield a half-game back of Pulaski in the Appy League East standings with one day of the regular season to play. Box score »

Salt Lake 8, Tacoma 4

Andy Marte was 4-for-4 with his fifth homer in 22 games and drove in two runs as the Bees captured the Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division title. Dontrelle Willis earned the win in relief, allowing an unearned run on three hits over 2 1/3 innings and Roberto Lopez smacked a two-run double. Stefen Romero homered for the Rainiers, who were eliminated for playoff contention. Gameday box score »

Charlotte 1, Palm Beach 0

Richie Shaffer's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth inning pushed across the Stone Crabs' lone run to clinch Florida State League South Division's second-half title. Shay Crawford earned the win with 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief and Nate Garcia notched his 11th save with a perfect ninth. The Stone Crabs received help from Jupiter, which beat St. Lucie, 12-3. Box score »

Cedar Rapids 5, Kane County 2

Brett Lee tossed six three-hit innings and Mike Gonzalez slugged a two-run homer as the Kernels put the finishing touches on the Midwest League Western Division's second-half title. It will be the club's first trip to the playoffs since 2010. Box score »