Salem Flummoxes Frederick 2-0 Wednesday

SALEM, VA (May 31, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox closed out a strong May with a shutout victory Wednesday night, riding a superb start from Dedgar Jimenez to a 2-0 win over the Frederick Keys at Haley Toyota Field.
The Red Sox (32-20) got an outstanding performance from Jimenez (W, 6-1), who fired six scoreless innings and dropped his ERA to 3.68 after it had been as high as 6.38 following his May 2 start against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Frederick (24-27) went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and were unable to push across any runs in the game. The Sox posted an 18-11 record in May, and their 32-20 record for the season is just one off the best mark they've ever had through 52 games (33-19, 1974 and 2016).

The teams were scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Salem finally broke through against Frederick starter Cody Sedlock (L, 4-3). Josh Ockimey hammered a leadoff double to right-center field. Trenton Kemp hit a deep fly ball that center fielder Austin Hays was able to catch, but Ockimey scooted to third on the fly out. After a soft ground out by Mike Meyers, Sedlock uncorked a wild pitch with Austin Rei at the plate, and Ockimey sped home to score the run and make it 1-0 in favor of the Sox.
After a 57-minute rain delay, Salem added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth against Frederick reliever Tanner Chleborad. With one out, Chad De La Guerra sliced a double to left, and Michael Chavis followed suit with his own two-bagger to score De La Guerra and run Salem's lead to 2-0. The Keys got the tying run on with only one out in the ninth, but Trevor Kelley (S, 4) was able to slam the door to secure the win.
Jimenez was outstanding, firing six shutout innings with five strikeouts against four hits and three walks. Austin Glorius dealt two scoreless frames of relief, fanning four batters against one hit. Kelley allowed two walks and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning for the save.
The Sox will look for their third straight win Thursday, with Salem lefty Matthew Kent making the start against Frederick southpaw Brian Gonzalez. First pitch from Haley Toyota Field is set for 7:05 p.m., and Ben Gellman's pregame show starts at 6:45 on the Red Sox Radio Network.
 
The Carolina League All-Star Game returns to Salem on Tuesday, June 20 at Haley Toyota Field. As part of a celebration of 50 years of Carolina League baseball in the Roanoke Valley, the Red Sox will host a skills competition on Monday, June 19. The skills competition will take place at historic Kiwanis Field, the original home of Carolina League baseball in Salem. All 2017 Salem Red Sox season ticket holders will have tickets to the skills competition and the All-Star Classic at Haley Toyota Field included in their ticket package.