Keys' Grimes locks up eight shutout frames

Matthew Grimes is big on pitching to contact. And the teams he's faced haven't been able to get a handle on that.

The right-handed Baltimore prospect delivered his third scoreless outing in his last four starts en route to Class A Advanced Frederick's 2-0 win Sunday at Five County Stadium. He went a career-long eight innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five for his fourth straight win and Carolina League-leading seventh victory.

"I usually like to pitch to contact and the defense was great," Grimes said. "All around, just knowing that I have great defense behind me allows me to pitch to contact, and I felt like my pitches were working for the most part. My arm was feeling good and the pitches were there.

"I think getting ahead with the fastball set the tone and allowed me to break out the off-speed stuff early. I think that was the key, getting ahead of guys with the fastball."

Grimes started off Sunday's game by giving up a single to Ryan Gebhardt, but set down the next three in a row. In the third, leadoff hitter Joseph Daris reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jomar Reyes, but Keys catcher Jonah Heim cut him down at second attempting to steal. Joseph Odom singled with one out in the fourth, but that was the last baserunner Grimes had to deal with until the eighth when Daris got aboard again on a fielding error by second baseman Steve Wilkerson.

The 24-year-old hasn't given up an earned run since May 17, and he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any outing this season. His newfound control and strategy earned him Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of April 25. He stands second on the circuit in ERA (1.21) to Lynchburg's Julian Merryweather (1.01) and fifth in WHIP (1.06).

But Grimes isn't content to settle on his success to date.

"With the results that I've had, it's definitely something I can continue to work at and get better," the Georgia Tech product said. "But you know, baseball can beat you up if you let it."

Grimes finished last season with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 24 starts for Class A Delmarva. But he spent the offseason perfecting his changeup, which has allowed him to use it more in conjunction with his two-seam fastball.

"I've been throwing the two-seam more lately and my changeup has been an asset for me. It forces weak ground balls," said the Hoschton, Georgia native. "I worked on my changeup a whole lot in the offseason. Getting that in a game gets guys off your fastballs."

Erick Salcedo extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI single in the second.

Enderson Franco (3-3) gave up two runs -- one earned -- while striking out seven in six innings for the Mudcats.