Beck Blast Leads Pelicans Past Keys
FREDERICK, MD -A Preston Beck two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the difference, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans used a pair of multi-run frames to defeat the Frederick Keys 4-3 on Thursday afternoon at Harry Grove Stadium. The victory gave the Pelicans their league-best 29th win of the season, while the Keys dropped to 20-24 on the season.
Making his second Carolina League start, Mark Blackmar allowed only one hit over his first two innings but ran into trouble in the third. Zach Cone started things off with a single, and scored two batters later on an RBI triple to right-center by Christopher Bostick. Later in the inning, Nick Williams brought his teammate home via an infield single.
From there, Blackmar settled down, retiring eight of the last 10 batters he faced. Pitching five innings for the second straight outing, the right-hander allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.
After Blackmar stranded a pair in the fifth, Frederick grabbed its first lead in the home-half of the frame. Following a single by Adrian Marin, a passed ball and a walk to Glynn Davis, Sammie Starr slammed a three-run homer to left to put the Keys on top 3-2. Received from Aberdeen before the start of the game, it was Starr's second longball of the season.
The three-run homer would be Victor Payano's lone mistake. Despite receiving a no-decision, the lefty turned in six innings of three-run baseball. His third quality start in his last four outings, Payano struck out three and walked only one (tying his season-low).
Matt Hobgood tossed two scoreless innings to maintain the one-run lead, but Rutledge (2-2) could not hold on in the eighth. Following a leadoff walk to Jorge Alfaro, Beck slugged an elevated breaking ball over the rightfield wall to give the visitors a 4-3 advantage. It was the Texan's fourth dinger of the season.
Frederick was held off the board in the eighth and ninth, as the team stranded three aboard in its final two at bats. Cody Buckel (1-3) picked up the win for Myrtle Beach, issuing only one hit over 1.2 stanzas. Sam Stafford received credit for his first save.
Frederick begins a seven-game roadtrip on Friday morning, as the team plays four games against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Right-hander Branden Kline (3-1, 3.47) makes the start for the Keys in the series opener and will be countered by Blue Rocks righty Miguel Almonte (2-2, 5.52). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Frawley Stadium, and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source. The Keys return home on May 30 for a four-game series with Wilmington. For ticket information, call 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.