Keys Fall in Extra Innings to Hot Rods

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Keys fell in 10 innings to the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) 6-2 in game two of the six game series Wednesday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.

Both starters settled in early as Stephen Still made his third start for Frederick while Trevor Harrison made his 19^th for Bowling Green. Still worked 1-2-3 innings in the first and fourth innings while Harrison worked in-and-out of traffic through most of his start.

Jordan Sanchez, making his High-A debut with the Keys, broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth with a solo blast over the scoreboard in right field. His first hit in Frederick was his 64^th on the season.

Still, the six-foot-three lefty, continued his dominant start by working into the sixth inning with just one hit against him. It came on a one out single in the fifth by Jhon Diaz that put runners on first and second. With two runners aboard for the first time in the ballgame, Tony Santa Maria bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

In the sixth, Still retired the first two he faced before allowing back-to-back singles to Narciso Polanco and Ryan McCoy. As McCoy singled, Polanco came around to score and tied the game 1-1. It would be the last batter Still faced as he left the game after 5.2 innings of work while striking out four and allowing just three hits and one run.

Trevor Harrison left the game after five innings of work. He allowed just one run on four hits against Frederick while striking out six. Mason Nichols entered the game in the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning despite a single from Randal Diaz.

Teddy Sharkey entered the game in the sixth and got the final out before pitching the top of the seventh. He allowed his first walk of the season to lead off the inning to Nicandro Aybar before Larry Martinez put a bunt down to Sharkey, who threw to Diaz at first for the out. As the infield crashed on the bunt, Aybar saw the open bag at third and rounded from second. Noticing the heads-up base running, DJ Layton chased him down, beat him to the bag and caught the throw from Diaz before putting the tag down on Aybar for the out.

Braylin Tavera was hit by a pitch to leadoff the seventh inning. He moved into scoring position by stealing second base as Braylon Whitaker and Yasmil Bucce each struck out. Edwin Amparo popped out to shallow right field to end the inning and strand the sixth Key of the game.

Braeden Sloan entered the game in the eighth inning and gave up three consecutive singles after striking out the leadoff batter to give the Hot Rods their first lead of the series. With two on and one out, Noah Myers was hit in the helmet with a pitch as he pulled back from offering a bunt. It loaded the bases for Aybar, who watched a slider inside for a called strike three. Sloan ended the inning with a strikeout of Martinez to strand three and limit the damage to just one run.

Bowling Green sent star closer Noah Beal to the mound with a 2-1 lead. Layton walked to lead off the inning before making his way to third after stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch. Sanchez worked a walk on a 10-pitch at bat before Diaz punt down a bunt single to squeeze Layton home and tie the game.

Todd Kniebbe entered for his 20^th appearance for Frederick in the ninth. Facing the bottom of the order, he struck out all three looking and kept the game tied moving into the bottom of the ninth. Jacob Hartlaub entered for the Hot Rods in the ninth and tossed a 1-2-3 bottom inning to push the game into the 10^th.

The Hot Rods sent home four runs in the top of the 10^th inning to make it a 6-2 game, as the Keys looked for a late rally Wednesday night to try and keep the win streak alive.

Hartlaub stayed in the game for the bottom of the 10^th, giving the Hot Rods a 6-2 win Wednesday night in game two of the series.

Box Score

Game three of the six-game series between the Keys and Hot Rods is set for 7 p.m. Thursday night from Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.

Thursday’s game represents Ft. Detrick Night along with postgame fireworks presented by the Frederick County Board of Elections and First United Bank and Trust. It is also Taphouse Thursday at the ballpark with local craft breweries on special at the 4 1/2 Innings Taphouse.