Keys swept by Blue Rocks in Saturday doubleheader

The Frederick Keys dropped both ends of Saturday night's doubleheader against Wilmington, falling 6-4 and 18-5 to the Blue Rocks. The losses moved the Keys to 18-16 and Wilmington improved to 16-19.

An impressive start by Keys pitcher Tim Berry unraveled in the sixth inning of game one. With the Keys leading 2-0, Berry allowed a leadoff single to Justin Trapp and walked Jorge Bonifacio with one out. A bad-hop error committed by shortstop Sammie Starr on a potential double-play ball loaded the bases and sacrifice fly from Lane Adams got Wilmington on the board.

The Blue Rocks added four more runs in the sixth to take 5-2 lead, the inning capped by Kenny Diekroger's two-run single. Wilmington added another run in the seventh on Daniel Mateo's RBI double.

Frederick rallied in the ninth inning but fell short. The Keys loaded the bases with one out against Robinson Yambati and Allan de San Miguel's walk brought the Keys' within 6-3. Antonio Cruz relieved Yambati and Travis Adair drove in the Keys' fourth run on an infield single to second base, but Cruz retired Steve Bumbry and Connor Narron to end the game, which had its start time delayed 30 minutes by rain.

De San Miguel gave the Keys the early lead on the fifth pitch of the bottom of the second, sending a leadoff solo home run over the right field fence. He put Frederick up 2-0 in the third, capping a brief two-out rally by singling home Sammie Starr, who doubled with two outs and was followed by Zane Chavez, who drew a walk.

Berry took the loss, despite allowing no earned runs. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowed six hits and five runs, walked two and struck out four. De San Miguel finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Kyle Zimmer started for Wilmington and allowed two runs over four innings. Cody Fassold picked up the win, throwing two scoreless innings in relief.

Jack Lopez went just 1-for-4 with an RBI in game one, but would carry Wilmington to victory in game two, posting seven RBIs and coming just a double shy of the cycle in Saturday's second contest.

After scoring single runs in the first and second innings, the Keys took a 5-0 lead in the third on outfielder Delvi Cid's three-run homer to left field, his first as a Key and as a member of the Baltimore Orioles' organization. But, in front of a season-best 7,842 in attendance at Harry Grove Stadium, things would quickly turn sour for Frederick after that.

The Keys allowed 18 unanswered runs over the final four innings of the game. A four-run fourth was highlighted by Lopez's two-run triple, a five-run fifth saw Lopez slap a two-RBI single and to punctuate his outstanding game, Wilmington's shortstop hit a three-run homer in the seventh, scoring runs six, seven and eight of the frame. The Blue Rocks also added a single run in the sixth.

Lopez finished 3-for-5 and doubled his RBI total entering the game.

Jerome Pena led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer for the Keys and Glynn Davis singled home the Keys' second run an inning later. Diekroger and Alex Hudak also hit home runs for Wilmington. Jorge Bonifacio went 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs in game two and Jared Schlehuber went 2-for-5 and drove in four runs. Wilmington racked up 18 hits in the game.

Keys starter Trent Howard allowed four runs, three earned, over four innings and Gene Escat, who relieved him and took the loss, allowed five runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. Blue Rocks starter John Lamb allowed five runs over four innings and was relieved by Malcom Culver, the game two winner, who pitched three scoreless innings to finish the game.

The Keys and Blue Rocks resume their four-game series with game three on Mother's Day, Sunday at 2 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium. For tickets to the Mother's Day matinee, visit the Keys box office at Harry Grove Stadium, order online at FrederickKeys.com or call 301-815-9939.