Facing a second straight defeat to start the road trip, the Salem Red Sox erupted for 10 runs in the eighth inning on Wednesday night at Nymeo Field and powered their way to a 14-7 victory over the Frederick Keys.
Entering the eighth inning trailing 7-4, the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out against reliever Tanner Scott. Mike Meyers struck out for the second out, but Salem then put seven straight runners on base. Rafael Devers and Danny Mars coaxed bases loaded walks on full counts before Ben Moore was hit by a pitch to square the game at seven.
Scott (0-1) continued to struggle with command, forcing in the go-ahead run on a four-pitch walk to Bryan Hudson. Luis Gonzalez came in to relieve Scott, but he walked Yoan Moncada on a full count to push the score to 9-7. Mauricio Dubon then came through with a two-run single up the middle before Andrew Benintendi provided the capper for the inning with a three-run home run to right field to put the Red Sox ahead 14-7.
In total, Salem scored all 10 runs with two outs in the inning on four hits, five walks and a hit by pitch. The 10-run inning was the biggest frame since the Red Sox plated 10 in the second inning of a contest on April 27, 2011 at Kinston.
The game had a back-and-forth nature prior to the eighth inning. Frederick struck first in the first inning on an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Jomar Reyes. Salem, though, struck back with two runs in the top of the second courtesy of an RBI double from Devers and a sac fly from Moore.
Devers was involved again in the fourth inning, breaking open a 2-2 tie with a two-run home run to right. The second dinger of the season was part of a big night for Devers, as he went 2-for-4 with a double, homer, and four RBI.
Frederick took advantage of some well-placed hits in the fifth inning to add three runs with two outs against Salem starter Dedgar Jimenez, grabbing a 5-4 lead in the process. Jimenez earned a no-decision, giving up five runs on five hits in 4.2 innings.
Adam Lau allowed an inherited run to score in the frame and ceded a two-run homer to Wynston Sawyer in the last of the seventh to put the Keys in front 7-4. However, Lau (3-0) earned the victory due to the late comeback. He allowed two runs on a hit and two walks in 2.1 innings. After the 10-run outburst, Mario Alcantara retired all six hitters he faced to slam the door on the win.
All nine Salem starters scored a run while six of the nine recorded a hit and seven players registered an RBI. In addition to Devers, Dubon (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI), and Nick Longhi (2-for-5, 2 R) had multi-hit games. The home run for Benintendi in the eighth was his first in a Salem uniform and extended his hitting streak to 16 games in a row. He finished the night 1-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Yoan Moncada saw his 15-game hitting streak come to an end, but extended his on-base streak to 18 games by recording a bases loaded walk in the eighth.
Salem will look to win the series on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Red Sox have yet to announce a starting pitcher for the game, while the Keys will throw Mitch Horacek (1-3, 7.41). Fans can follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, starting with pregame coverage at 6:45.
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