Kinston, N.C. - Ofelky Peralta gave the Keys a strong start, leading them to a 4-0 victory over the Wood Ducks, to give Frederick a two games to one series advantage.
Kinston, N.C. - Ofelky Peralta gave the Keys a strong start, leading them to a 4-0 victory over the Wood Ducks, to give Frederick a two games to one series advantage.
The Wood Ducks (35-28, 85-48) have now lost six of their last seven, and 12 of their last 19.
Peralta (win 3-2) stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, and went on to work six scoreless. He struck out six, while giving up four hits and three walks.
The only inning in which the Wood Ducks had multiple runners on base came in the fourth, when Yohel Pozo and Bubba Thompson worked back-to-back two outs walks. Josh Altmann then hit a high popup which fell in for a hit right in front of home plate, but on the play Pozo was tagged out trying to score to keep the ballgame scoreless.
Alex Eubanks (loss, 9-5) was strong early, facing just three over the minimum through five scoreless innings. Frederick got to him in the sixth when Cole Billingsley and Sean Miller reached on back-to-back singles, and JC Escarra blasted his second home run of the series, and 13th of the year, to put the Keys in front, 3-0.
Frederick added a run in the seventh. Chris Clare led off the inning with a double to right-center, and two batters later, Daniel Fajardo ripped a double down the right field line to score him, and make it 4-0.
Eubanks went seven innings, giving up four runs on ten hits, he struck out two, and did not walk a batter.
Jairo Beras and Joe Kuzia each worked a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Woodies, while Tyler Joyner and Tim Naughton combined on the final three scoreless for the Keys.
The Wood Ducks will go for the split in the finale when they send lefty Sal Mendez (6-2, 2.40) to the mound Thursday to face off with Keys right-hander Brenan Hanifee (9-9, 4.39), with first pitch set for 7 p.m. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. It's Thirsty Thursday at Grainger Stadium, featuring $1 Busch Light and Natty Light, presented by Budweiser. For tickets to the final home game of the regular season visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (252) 686-5172.
