Sloppy Sox fall to Keys, 5-3

Heri Quevedo authored another quality start, but uncharacteristic defensive mistakes proved to be Salem’s downfall on Thursday evening. Taking advantage of five Red Sox errors, the Keys scored four unearned runs and knocked off the Sox 5-3 at LewisGale Field. Salem outhit Frederick 10-7, but the Sox left eight men on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Five different Red Sox made errors, with Quevedo hurting his own cause with an errant pickoff attempt in the top of the third that allowed Frederick to score its first run. Nick Natoli, Cody Koback, Matt Price, and Mookie Betts also were charged with errors, all of which helped lead to runs.

Ironically, Frederick took its lead that wouldn’t be relinquished with an earned run, albeit after Aaron Baker drew a one-out walk in the top of the fourth. Two batters later, Allan de San Miguel hammered an RBI double off the wall in left, giving Frederick a 2-1 lead. In the fifth, Salem’s defense faltered on back-to-back hitters, eventually leading to a pair of unearned runs, with Johnny Ruettiger and Glynn David smacking RBI singles, putting the Keys ahead 4-1.

Salem rallied for a pair in the last of the seventh to inch within one. Koback singled and eventually scored on wild pitch, while Carson Blair walked and came around on Henry Ramos’ sacrifice fly. With the score 4-3, the Sox glovework went awry once more in the ninth. With men at the corners, Price fielded Ruettiger’s chopper, tagged out the runner at third, and then fired the ball into right-center field gunning for the man near second. Sammie Starr raced around third and scored to make it 5-3. Betts misplayed the ensuing batted ball for Salem’s fifth error of the night, but Betts did throw out Ruettiger at the plate as he tried to score from second on the miscue.

In the last of the ninth, Blair’s one-out double brought the tying run to the plate, but Salem’s offense went quiet after that. Gene Escat earned the save with his scoreless ninth, while Matt Hobgood picked up his first Carolina League win in relief, dealing four innings and allowing two runs. Quevedo, despite a solid outing with four runs (one earned) allowed on five hits over six innings, suffered his first loss in July and fell to 4-4 on the year.

With the four-game set even at one-game apiece, the Sox and Keys reunite on Friday for a 7:05 start. Mike Augliera will oppose Tim Berry, as both hurlers are scheduled to make their 20^th start of the 2013 season.