Rocks Score Four Unanswered Runs to Edge Keys

WILMINGTON, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks did not hold a lead until the sixth inning on Saturday night, but they still came out on top in a game against the Frederick Keys, taking the contest 4-3. Both starting pitchers produced solid performances on Saturday, but neither figured in the decision. Wilmington hurler Eric Skoglund (1-0, 0.82) tossed 5.1 innings, yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Frederick starter Matt Taylor (0-0, 4.50) went four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with one walk, and did not strike out a batter.

The win belonged to reliever Benino Pruneda, who now holds a 1-0 record and a perfect 0.00 ERA. The losing pitcher was Austin Urban, who now sits at 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA. Robinson Yambati (0-0, 1.50) picked up his third save of the season.

Frederick third baseman Drew Dosch continued to torment the Blue Rocks in Wilmington's opening series at Frawley Stadium. A night after notching four hits in as many at-bats, including a double, a run, and three RBI's, Dosch came through with a 2-3 night, recording a double, a walk, and three more RBI's. He did, however, strike out looking in the ninth inning with the tying run on base.

For the third time in as many games in the series, the Keys got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. Dosch would record his first RBI of the night with one out in the frame, singling with one out to drive in Anthony Hewitt to give his team a 1-0 advantage. That would be the only run Frederick would get in the inning.

With the Keys still leading 1-0 in the top of the fourth, designated hitter Brenden Webb worked a one out walk and stole second base. Two batters later, shortstop Adrian Marin would reach on an error by third baseman Robert Pehl, putting runners on the corners with two down. Dosch would follow with a double, bringing in both runners and giving the Keys a 3-0 lead.

The Rocks responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs of their own. Shortstop Jack Lopez began the inning with a walk, and advanced to second base on a balk. Center fielder Bubba Starling would bring Lopez in with a single to get Wilmington on the board. After moving up a bag on a wild pitch, Starling came around to score on a double by first baseman Frank Schwindel, cutting the Frederick lead to 3-2.

Wilmington would take the lead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was another leadoff walk that got the rally going, this time coming from Starling, who would steal second base shortly after earning the free pass. Urban would get the next two men out, but catcher Cam Gallagher knocked a two out double to drive in Starling and tie the game at three. Pehl would follow with a single, scoring Gallagher and pushing Wilmington in front 4-3. Yambati would shut the door with two solid innings of work, allowing only one hit while striking out five in the contest's final two frames.

Wilmington improves to 5-4 on the season, with Frederick dropping to 7-3. These two teams will meet tomorrow in the finale of their four game series at Frawley Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m., and fans can listen to the broadcast on 89.7 WGLS-FM.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE:

Starting pitcher Eric Skoglund was a ground ball machine for the Blue Rocks on Saturday. Of the 16 outs he recorded, 11 of them came on the ground. In total, 19 of his 33 outs produced this season have been via the grounder, good for a 1.36 ground out to air out ratio. He ran into some bad luck on Saturday while keeping balls out of the air, as he was the victim of a ground ball infield single, and an error on a grounder that led to two unearned runs.

Robinson Yambati has settled into the role of defacto closer for this Blue Rocks squad. Saturday marked the right-hander's fourth appearance of the season, and in the last three, he has earned the save. After giving up a run in one inning of work during the season opener on April 9 at Myrtle Beach, Yambati has thrown five scoreless frames, striking out six batters in that span. Saturday was also his first home appearance of the year. overall, Yambati has thrown six innings in 2015, pitching to a 1.50 ERA.

With a runner on first and nobody out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Frank Schwindel was called out on an automatic strike by home plate umpire Chase Eade. Schwindel stepped out of the batter's box, and Eade chose to enforce the new pace of play rule, ruling Schwindel out via the automatic strike out. Manager Brian Buchanan went out to argue against the ruling, but the call was upheld.

The Blue Rocks offense continues to produce with two outs in an inning. Of their nine total hits against the Keys, Wilmington recorded two of them with only one out to work with in a frame. The Rocks even scored two of their runs with two outs on Saturday. The Blue Crew has been clutch this season, notching a .279 batting average with two outs and runners in scoring position, good for third in the Carolina League.

THEY SAID IT:

Manager Brian Buchanan:

"They did a good job. We continue to swing the bats well and the pitching was great. [Eric Skoglund] pitched okay. He had some good innings and some so-so innings but he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win. That's all you can ask of your starters."

"We've got a ton of two-out RBIs this year. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense and the pitcher. When you can get two-out hits, it's heartbreaking. We talk about two strike approaches. We want them to choke up and put the ball in play. For some of these guys, it's a work in progress. Today in BP we did one round of two strike approach. They have been striking out but I think their approach is good."

"In the Minors, we don't have a closer but we want [Robinson Yambati] pitching at the back end of games. If it's a save situation he's going to be in there, but if he's not available someone else will be in there. He's not our closer, we just want him to go multiple innings each time. I think he's being more aggressive. He's got good stuff. His slider is a knockout slider and he [keeps his changeup down]. He's an intimidating factor out there. He's just got to keep the ball down."

"They called [Frank Schwindel] out for being out of the box. I don't mind them doing it but they need to do it consistently. You can't just throw it out there for one batter. I don't think that was warranted."

Catcher Cam Gallagher:

"As hard as I hit it, I thought, 'it's either going to get out or it's going to get caught.' The centerfielder must have been playing a little bit to left-center and it just dropped."

"I'm just trying to put together good at-bats, no matter what time of the game. I've been hitting some hard balls right at guys, they're not really falling. It's still early, I've just got to keep my approach."

"I never caught [Eric Skoglund] before so it was the first time in Myrtle Beach and I'm still trying to figure him out. So far we've got a pretty good game plan and we'll definitely keep on going and try to continue what he's been doing."

"Last year [Robinson Yambati] came back from Tommy John so he was just trying to get his feet under him. He came and he's been lights out. He's been pitching really well."

"I actually thought [Frank Schwindel] got tossed. I didn't know what happened, I thought he threw him out of the game. I was really confused and then it came up that there was one out. I guess it's a rule and you've got to abide my it."