Late surge pushes Frederick Keys past Salem Red Sox, 11-5

The Frederick Keys pounded three home runs against Salem Red Sox pitching, including a grand slam in the decisive eighth frame, to win 11-5 on Friday night at NYMEO Field.

With the game tied at five entering the bottom of the eighth, Simon Mercedes walked the leadoff man, Jonah Heim. Steve Wilkerson attempted to laid down a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat, but fell behind to a 1-2 count before smacking a go-ahead RBI triple to center field. Wilkerson scored two batters later on an Erick Salcedo RBI single to make it 7-5.

Two walks loaded the bases for Conor Bierfeldt with two outs, who unloaded on a 1-1 pitch from German Taveras for a grand slam, giving Frederick an 11-5 advantage.

Home runs were the name of the game early as well when Cam Kneeland clocked a solo shot with one out in the first inning off Trey Ball to put the Keys up 1-0. The lead was quickly erased, though, when Jordan Procyshen connected on his first home run of the season for Salem in the top of the third.

Procyshen’s blast sparked a three-run rally for the Sox in the third as Wendell Rijo put Salem ahead on an RBI single before scoring on an RBI double from Rafael Devers that pushed Salem in front 3-1.

Frederick clawed closer by scoring on a wild pitch in the last of the fourth before taking a 5-3 lead on a three-run, two-out homer from Jomar Reyes in the last of the fifth.

Ball surrendered the two home runs as part of a five-inning outing. The southpaw earned a no-decision, giving up five runs on six hits with five strikeouts. His counterpart, Franderlin Romero, lasted just four innings for Frederick after allowing three runs on six hits.

Frederick remained in front until Nick Longhi tied the game with a two-run double to right in the top of the eighth. However, the six-run rally in the last of the eighth quickly untied the game and gave the Keys the win.

Tanner Scott (4-1) earned the win for Frederick in relief despite blowing the save and yielding two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings. Mercedes (0-1) suffered the loss for the Red Sox, giving up four runs on three hits in 2.1 frames of relief.

Salem received multi-hit contributions from Joseph Monge (2-for-5, 2B, R), Devers (2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI) and Longhi (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) in the setback.

The series continues from NYMEO Field on Saturday night at 6:00 pm. Anyelo Leclerc (0-0, 12.00) will make his second spot start for the Red Sox while Lucas Long (4-4, 4.66) goes for the Keys. Follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 5:45 pm.