The Frederick Keys defeated the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 4-1 on Aug. 18 at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware, to win the series opener. Frederick scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning and held Wilmington to four base hits in the first of seven games for the week.
Frederick Keys Take the Lead
Boston Bateman opened the game with a strikeout and pitched a scoreless bottom of the first inning. After both teams went scoreless in the second, RJ Austin hit an RBI groundout that scored Edwin Amparo from third base, giving the Keys a 1-0 lead.
Zac Lampton made his first appearance as part of his return to the Keys in the bottom of the fourth inning. He pitched a scoreless frame, allowing Frederick to carry its one-run lead into the fifth.
Three-Run Fifth Gives Frederick Separation
The Keys scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Enddy Azocar hit a two-RBI single, and Ethan Anderson followed with an RBI double to extend Frederick’s lead to 4-0.
Both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning before Jacob Walsh hit a solo home run for Wilmington in the seventh. The home run cut the Blue Rocks’ deficit to 4-1.
Cohen Achen Secures the Victory
Cohen Achen pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning for Frederick. He then retired all three batters in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season and secure the Keys’ 4-1 victory.
Frederick Keys Set for Wednesday Doubleheader
The Frederick Keys and Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) are scheduled to play a doubleheader Wednesday at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. The first game starts at 5 p.m., with the second game beginning about 45 minutes after the first to make up the contest postponed on Aug. 2 in Frederick. The doubleheader follows the Keys’ series-opening victory.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Frederick’s three-run fifth inning turned a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 advantage. Azocar’s two-RBI single and Anderson’s RBI double supplied the decisive scoring in the inning.
Achen completed the victory with a 1-2-3 eighth inning and his first save of the season in the ninth. The Keys will next play Wilmington in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Source: Original report
