Jonah Heim launched a no-doubt, two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Frederick Keys a wild 10-9 victory over the Salem Red Sox on Thursday night at Nymeo Field.
Heim’s homer off Simon Mercedes came one batter after Jomar Reyes reached on a swinging bunt infield single with one out. After a first pitch bunt attempt from Heim, Mercedes (2-2) offered a fastball that Heim clobbered to right to give Frederick (51-45, 15-11) the walk-off win.
The night started in frantic fashion with Salem (56-39, 13-13) scoring three unearned runs over the first two innings thanks to three Keys errors. Nick Longhi reached on the first of the errors, which plated Rafael Devers. Longhi would later score on a Mike Meyers double to put Salem ahead 2-0 in the first.
Frederick responded with a run in the home half of the first, but the Sox got the run right back in the second when Deiner Lopez reached on an error and scored on a Joseph Monge double.
Salem’s 3-1 lead was short-lived, though, when Wynston Sawyer hit the first of three Frederick home runs on the night, a two-run shot to center to even things at three. An inning later, the Keys added on three more tallies, including a Steve Wilkerson solo home run, growing the lead to 6-3.
All the damage was done against Salem starter Travis Lakins, who lasted only four innings. He allowed six runs on nine hits while walking two and failed to strike out a hitter.
The Red Sox stormed back to take the lead with six runs in the top of the sixth inning. The first three Salem batters reached on hits, including Lopez, who collected an RBI single. Monge cut the deficit even further with a sacrifice fly before two walks loaded the bases for Longhi.
Tanner Chleborad was called upon from the Frederick bullpen and promptly uncorked a wild pitch to tie the game before ceding a go-ahead RBI single to Longhi, putting Salem in front 7-6. Danny Mars and Jordan Procyshen added RBI hits of their own later in the frame, pushing the Red Sox ahead 9-6.
Frederick immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning against Anyelo Leclerc, slicing the deficit to 9-8. Leclerc handed things off in the eighth to Mercedes, who retired the first four hitters before allowing the final two to reach, culminating in the walk-off home run.
Mitch Horacek received a no-decision in the start for the Keys. He allowed three runs (none earned) on six hits in five frames. Trevor Belicek (2-3) picked up the win with three scoreless innings or relief out of the Frederick bullpen.
All nine Salem batters picked up at least one hit in the 13-hit barrage. Longhi, Meyers, Mars, and Procyshen all contributed multi-hit games while Monge drove home a pair of runs.
The series continues on Friday night at 7pm at Nymeo Field. Daniel McGrath (3-4, 4.22) is scheduled to start for Salem opposite Frederick’s Franderlin Romero (4-2, 5.32). Follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 pm.
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