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Sox Sock Way Past Keys 7-1 Sunday

Kemp Goes Deep to Start Big Seventh Inning
Trenton Kemp matched a Salem record by homering in his fourth straight game. (Ken Inness / MiLB.com)
June 24, 2018

SALEM, VA (Sunday, June 24) - The Salem Red Sox bats took a while to wake up in earnest, but they made a huge impact in a five-run seventh inning, and the team rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Frederick Keys at Haley Toyota Field.Salem (3-1, 35-37) earned their

SALEM, VA (Sunday, June 24) - The Salem Red Sox bats took a while to wake up in earnest, but they made a huge impact in a five-run seventh inning, and the team rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Frederick Keys at Haley Toyota Field.
Salem (3-1, 35-37) earned their third straight win, and put together a series victory to open the second half of the 2018 season. Frederick (1-3, 36-37) wasted a superb effort from their starter, and gave up a comeback victory for the third day in a row, with their bullpen posting a 19.50 ERA over six innings in the series.

Frederick opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. T.J. Nichting laced a two-out single through the right side, and swiped second to reach scoring position. Salem starter Bryan Mata (ND) uncorked a ball in the dirt, and Nichting sped for third. Catcher Nick Sciortino whipped the ball to third to try to catch the runner, but the throw was wild, and the combined wild pitch and error brought Nichting in to score, giving the Keys a 1-0 lead.
The Sox drew level in the bottom of the fifth against Frederick starting pitcher Alex Wells (ND). Trenton Kemp mashed a one-out double to left, putting himself in scoring position. Sciortino hit a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop that Alejandro Juvier fielded, but Sciortino was able to beat out the throw to first. Kemp took off on Juvier's off-balance throw, and first baseman Wilson Garcia tried to nab Kemp at third. However, Garcia's throw was way over the head of third baseman Collin Woody, and Kemp zipped home to tie the game at 1-1.
Salem made their move in the bottom of the seventh against Keys reliever James Teague (L, 1-3). On a 2-0 count, Kemp smashed a majestic homer over the left-field wall, his third dinger of the year. Sciortino then worked a walk, and Santiago Espinal singled him to second base. Following a line-out to right by Brett Netzer, C.J. Chatham singled to load the bases. Bobby Dalbec took advantage of the opportunity, smashing a hot shot to third that Collin Woody dove for but couldn't haul in; the ball trickled away in foul territory, and Sciortino and Espinal both raced home while Chatham took third on the two-run double. Tyler Hill hit a sacrifice fly to medium center field, and Chatham scored while Dalbec took third on Nichting's throw. The Keys brought in relief arm Steven Klimek to try to stem the bleeding, but his second pitch was wild, allowing Dalbec to trot home with the fifth run of the inning. When the dust had cleared, Salem had taken a 6-1 lead.
The Sox tacked on one more in the bottom of the eighth. Sciortino banged a one-out double up the left field line, and Espinal reached first when Woody booted a bouncer to third. Netzer flew out to right, and Sciortino made it to third after tagging up. Chatham rapped a single into left field, plating Sciortino for Salem's final 7-1 margin.
Mata took a no-decision, allowing just an unearned run on three hits and three walks while fanning four. Kevin McAvoy allowed a walk and a hit-by-pitch in his lone inning of work, whiffing one. Joan Martinez (W, 2-1) worked around a hit, a walk and a hit batter to record the win in two shutout frames, recording one strikeout. Taylor Ahearn tossed a perfect ninth with one strikeout to close out the game.
The Sox will take a day off Monday before opening a four-game series against the Carolina Mudcats. Righty Jake Thompson will make the start for Salem against Carolina right-hander Devin Williams. 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.