Keys Hold Off Late Rally from BlueClaws to Earn Game Two Victory
LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Frederick Keys took down the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) in game two of the six-game series Wednesday afternoon, winning by a score of 10-9 at ShoreTown Ballpark. Led by five RBIs and a game-winning RBI single from Randal Diaz, the Keys held off a late rally
LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Frederick Keys took down the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) in game two of the six-game series Wednesday afternoon, winning by a score of 10-9 at ShoreTown Ballpark.
Led by five RBIs and a game-winning RBI single from Randal Diaz, the Keys held off a late rally from the BlueClaws, as the Keys took the first two games of the series on the road.
Diaz got the day started strong for the Frederick offense with a two-run homer to left field, giving the Keys an early 2-0 lead through only an inning Wednesday afternoon.
Boston Bateman struck out the side for his second scoreless inning in a row in the bottom of the second, taking the game to the third with the Keys leading by two on the road.
Following the Keys and BlueClaws going off the board in the third, the Keys got four runs in the top of the fourth, thanks to RBI singles from Diaz and Edwin Amparo, and along with an RBI groundout from Braylin Tavera and a run scoring play for Fernando Peguero, that put the lead for the Keys up to six at 6-0 after three and a half innings of play.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, an error at third brought home two runs for Jersey Shore, but then the rain started and forced a rain delay with the Keys lead at 6-2.
After the 25-minute weather delay, Leandro Arias pushed Frederick’s lead back to five on an RBI single to right, handing the Keys a 7-2 edge approaching the sixth inning on a cloudy and humid game two.
Despite Jersey Shore getting one run back in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI triple from Colin Tuft and an RBI sacrifice fly from Diaz put the Keys back up by six heading into the bottom of the seventh.
However, the BlueClaws responded with a six-run bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at nine apiece, as Frederick looked to take the lead back during the later innings.
The Keys defense turned two however in the bottom of the eighth, allowing the contest to stay even at nine apiece approaching the ninth at ShoreTown Ballpark.
Diaz delivered again in the top of the ninth with a go-ahead RBI single, giving the Keys the lead back at 10-9 going into the bottom of the ninth, with Todd Kniebbe looking to close it out in the bottom frame.
The Keys and BlueClaws meet for the third time in as many days Thursday night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood for game three of the six-game series.