Salem Red Sox fall to Frederick Keys, 3-2

Sammie Starr’s sacrifice fly brought home Jerome Pena in the bottom of the ninth and capped Frederick’s 3-2 comeback victory over the Salem Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Harry Grove Stadium.

Sox starter Henry Owens dazzled by dealing five scoreless innings, but Salem’s offense mustered just two runs of support and the bullpen could not hang on to the lead. With the score tied at two, both teams enjoyed leadoff doubles to begin the ninth inning. But Salem stranded Brandon Jacobs at third base, while Pena scurried home ahead of the off-line throw from right fielder Keury De La Cruz, igniting a Keys’ celebration.

Sean Coyle went 2-for-3 with a walk and a leadoff home run in the first inning, propelling the Sox into their first lead of the year just six pitches into the game. Two innings later, Deven Marrero delivered an RBI single, one of his two hits on the afternoon, to give Salem a 2-0 lead.

Owens pitched around a walk and a single in his first inning of work, permitting just two baserunners in his next four frames. The tall lefthander fired perfect frames in the second, third, and fifth, yielding just two singles and two walks overall in his five-inning, 70 pitch, 45 strike performance.

Frederick starter Tyler Wilson retired the final 11 Red Sox he faced after surrendering Marrero’s RBI single in third. In six innings, Wilson was charged with two runs on two hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts. But the Keys bullpen kept the Red Sox at bay, with Zach Fowler tossing a pair of scoreless innings before Eric Beaulac dealt a scoreless ninth and earned the win.

The Keys scored a pair of runs off Sox reliever Noe Ramirez to tie the game in the sixth. Three singles, a walk, and an error combined to erase Salem’s lead, and the game remained even into the last of the ninth.

Salem dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 2001. It’s been 15 years since Salem last began a season 0-3.

The Red Sox look to avoid a series sweep on Sunday afternoon, with Kyle Stroup set to make the start against Tim Berry. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 2:00 PM.