The Frederick Keys earned a 13-1 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) in game one of the South Atlantic League North Division Championship series on Sept. 8, 2026, at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina. The victory was Frederick’s first playoff win in nine years, and the Keys broke open the game with nine runs in the top of the eighth inning.
Yasmil Bucce and Randal Diaz gave Frederick a 2-0 lead with RBI bunts in the first inning. Greensboro scored once in the bottom of the inning, but the Keys maintained a 2-1 advantage after the opening frame.
Boston Bateman Records Career-High Strikeout Total
Boston Bateman struck out the side in the third and fifth innings while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts. His performance kept Greensboro within reach as Frederick protected its early lead.
Ty Head extended the advantage with a two-out solo home run in the fourth inning. Jaiden Lo Re followed with an RBI single in the fifth to make it a 4-1 game. Teddy Sharky then tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh.
Frederick Keys Score Nine Runs in Eighth Inning
Lo Re started the eighth-inning outburst with a sacrifice bunt that drove in two runs on a throwing error. Head added a two-RBI single, Braylin Tavera delivered an RBI single and Ryan Stafford recorded an RBI fielder’s choice. Enddy Azocar capped the inning with a three-run home run, giving Frederick a 13-1 lead. The nine-run inning tied the most runs the Keys scored in a single inning this season.
Brendan Parks closed out the bottom of the eighth, and Zac Lampton finished the game in the ninth. The Keys took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Game Two Scheduled in Frederick
Following an off day Wednesday, the Frederick Keys and Greensboro Grasshoppers will meet for game two Thursday at 7 p.m. at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. The first 2,000 fans will receive a rally towel courtesy of IBEW Local 24 and Rowan Digital Infrastructure.
Postgame fireworks will be presented by Rowan Digital Infrastructure and Mr. Pyro.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Frederick Keys combined Boston Bateman’s career-high 10 strikeouts with timely offense and a decisive eight-inning surge. The nine-run inning turned a 4-1 game into a 13-1 victory and gave Frederick the opening win in the South Atlantic League North Division Championship series.
Source: Original report
