SALEM, VA (Thursday, June 21) - The Salem Red Sox had a less-than-satisfying start to the 2018 campaign's second half Thursday night, as they fell 2-1 in a rain-shortened game to the Frederick Keys at Haley Toyota Field.Salem (0-1, 32-37) had several scoring opportunities but continued their season-long struggles with
SALEM, VA (Thursday, June 21) - The Salem Red Sox had a less-than-satisfying start to the 2018 campaign's second half Thursday night, as they fell 2-1 in a rain-shortened game to the Frederick Keys at Haley Toyota Field.
Salem (0-1, 32-37) had several scoring opportunities but continued their season-long struggles with run-scoring chances, as they went 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Frederick (1-0, 36-34) notched their first win at Haley Toyota Field in 2018, having previously been swept by the Sox in three games in April.
Frederick opened the scoring in the top of the first against Salem starter Tanner Houck (L, 3-8). Leadoff man T.J. Nichting reached when second baseman Brett Netzer booted a grounder to him, and advanced to second on a Houck wild pitch. Preston Palmeiro grounded out to the right side, allowing Nichting to move to third base, and a groundout to first by Wilson Garcia plated Nichting to give the Keys a 1-0 lead.
The Keys tacked on one more in the top of the third, as Garcia singled and Randolph Gassaway drew a walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Jomar Reyes lined a double to left to score Garcia and advance the lead to 2-0.
Salem ate away at the lead in the bottom of the third against Frederick starting pitcher Zac Lowther (W, 3-0). Santiago Espinal led off the frame with a single, and pilfered second base before a throwing error on the steal by Yojhan Quevedo allowed Espinal to reach third. Netzer worked a walk, and C.J. Chatham lofted a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly to score Espinal and cut the lead to 2-1. However, that was as close as the Sox would get; the next two batters each struck out, and the Sox got the bases loaded against reliever Steven Klimek (S, 2) with one out in the sixth only for Jordan Procyshen to line into a double play to end the frame. With one out in the top of the seventh, heavy rain forced play to grind to a halt, and the umpires called the game just under half an hour later.
Houck took the hard-luck loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks in five innings and recording four strikeouts. Joan Martinez was perfect in 1.1 innings of relief before play was halted.
The Sox will look for a sunnier outlook Friday night, with lefty Darwinzon Hernandez toeing the slab for Salem against Frederick righty Cristian Alvarado. First pitch at Haley Toyota Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and the pregame show with Ben Gellman and Suzie Cool begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Red Sox broadcast network.
