Salem Red Sox top Keys, 4-1

Matt Kent authored his seventh quality start of the year and the Salem Red Sox used some late offense to pull away from the Frederick Keys in a 4-1 victory at NYMEO Field on Sunday evening.

Kent (7-3) was coming off his shortest start of the year on Tuesday against Myrtle Beach, but rebounded phenomenally against Frederick (41-39, 5-5). The lefty carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and faced only one true jam, getting Conor Bierfeldt to fly out with two on and two out in the sixth inning.

Overall, Kent lasted 6.2 innings, scattering four hits while striking out six and walking one. It was the third scoreless start of the season for Kent, who lowered his ERA to 2.98.

Meanwhile, Salem’s offense was slow to get going before scratching across a run on a solo home run from Jose Sermo in the top of the fourth. Sermo’s first blast with the Red Sox (50-29, 7-3) cleared all three levels of ads in straightaway center field for a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the eighth when Jordan Betts walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single to right field Bryan Hudson. Betts was in the middle of the action in the ninth as well, slicing a two-out RBI single up the middle to push Salem’s advantage to 3-0. A Frederick error on the next play allowed Danny Mars to score Salem’s fourth run.

Bobby Poyner came in for the ninth, following Jorge Marban, who tossed 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings in his first appearance with the Red Sox this year. Poyner gave up a two-out solo homer to Jomar Reyes before allowing two singles to bring the tying run to the plate. The lefthander was able to take care of Josh Hart, though, with a fly ball to right field to end the game.

David Richardson (2-2) took the loss in a spot start for the Keys. Coming down from Double-A prior to the game, Richardson allowed a run on three hits in four innings while piling up seven strikeouts.

Salem now continues its season-long 10-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series against the Carolina Mudcats on Independence Day. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm. Travis Lakins (5-3, 5.45) will toe the rubber for Salem against Carolina’s Matt Withrow (5-4, 3.46). Follow along with all the action on the Salem Red Sox Baseball Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 pm.