Salem Red Sox rally, top Frederick, 6-4

The Salem Red Sox scored three runs in the seventh and one in the eight to beat the Frederick Keys 6-4 at LewisGale Field Tuesday night.

Kyle Martin got the win in relief, allowing just a hit and an unearned run in three innings. Matt Hauser was charged with the loss, lasting just an inning and two thirds, surrendering two hits and three unearned runs. Corey Littrell picked up the second straight quality start for the Sox, going six innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. Littrell struck out a season high nine in his no decision.

The Keys took an early lead on a first inning solo home run by Brenden Webb to deep right center field on a first pitch fastball. The Keys added two more off Littrell in the third. Sammie Starr singled to lead off the frame followed by a bunt single by Glynn Davis. The runners would steal second a third with one out. Creede Simpson drove home Starr on a sacrifice fly, and Davis scored on a double by Michael Burgess to give Frederick a 3-0 lead.

Salem would slowly battle its way back into this game, starting in the fifth inning. After a lead off single and two fielders choices, The Sox had Michael Miller on first with two outs. Reed Gragnani would double and Ryan Dent would walk to load the bases. While the Sox left the bases loaded in the first inning, Carson Blair would single home two runs in the fifth and the Sox were within one.

The Keys would score their final run off of Martin in the top of the seventh. Davis doubled to lead off the frame and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Carson Blair tried to throw out the runner a third but threw wild which allowed Davis to score and gave Frederick a 4-2 win.

The Red Sox would break through in the bottom of the seventh. Matty Johnson popped up a bunt which flew over the pitchers mound into no man’s land allowing Johnson to reach. A wild pitch by Hauser would allow Johnson to reach second. Then Reed Gragnani hit a fly ball to deep left that Webb dropped allowing Johnson to score and Gragnani to reach second to make it 4-3. Three batters later, after two more walks loaded the bases, Aneury Tavarez snapped a 1-24 skid with a two run double to give Salem its first lead at 5-4.

The Sox would tack on the final run of the game when Dreily Guerrero hit his second home run of the year in the bottom of the eight off of Matt Price.

With the win, Salem snapped a six game losing streak and beat Frederick in the first meeting between the two teams this year. Game two of the series is tomorrow at 7:05 at LewisGale Field. Simon Mercedes gets the ball for the Red Sox and Parker Bridwell is on the bump for the Keys.