The Frederick Keys used a pair of two-out, two-run home runs to build an early lead and eventually defeat the Salem Red Sox, 4-1, on Tuesday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Jonah Heim provided the first of the blasts with a two-run line drive shot in the second inning, plating Austin Wynns, who had reached on an infield single earlier in the frame. Aderlin Rodriguez followed suit with a towering drive in the third inning for his third round-tripper of the year to double the lead to 4-0.
Jalen Beeks was on the wrong end of both home runs, resulting in his first loss of the season. Beeks (2-1) lasted just 4.1 frames, allowing the four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Salem’s lone run came in the top of the fourth when Mauricio Dubon scored on a two-out wild pitch. Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi both singled in the inning to extend their respective hitting streaks to 15 games, the longest stretches in the Carolina League this year.
The Red Sox (11-8) had opportunities to close the gap throughout the game, but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Matthew Grimes (2-1) started for Frederick (7-12) and earned the win by yielding just a run on six hits in 5.1 frames. Jimmy Yacabonis earned his first save of the year with two scoreless innings of relief.
Salem’s bullpen combination of Ben Taylor and Yankory Pimentel was strong, giving the Red Sox a chance late. Taylor, making his first relief appearance of the season, faced the minimum in 2.2 innings while Pimentel retired the side in order in the eighth.
The loss marked the first setback on the road this season for Salem, snapping a nine-game road winning streak dating back to the final two games in 2015.
The Red Sox look to even the series on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Dedgar Jimenez (0-1, 8.74) is scheduled to start for Salem against Frederick’s Cory Jones (0-1, 3.60). Fans can follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network.
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