Starling Walk-Off Double Ends Keys Six-Game Win Streak

WILMINGTON, Del. -Bubba Starling connected on a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Frederick Keys a 3-2 defeat on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium. The loss snapped the Keys six-game winning streak, matching their high-water mark in 2014. Despite the setback, Frederick still holds the top mark in the Carolina League Northern Division at 6-2.

With the game tied at two heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, Jon Keller came on to relieve Devin Jones. Keller (0-1) retired Ramon Torres to open the inning, before allowing a bloop single to Jack Lopez. That sent up Starling, who split the left-center gap with a double bringing in Torres from first. It was the Keys first walk-off defeat since last August 13, when the club also fell to Wilmington via a walk-off wild pitch.

Trailing 2-1 for a majority of the game, the Blue Crew tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. With Frederick starter Luis Gonzalez remaining in the game, Mauricio Ramos and Cam Gallagher opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Both men advanced into scoring position on a sac-bunt by Dominique Taylor, before Keys manager Orlando Gomez went to the bullpen. Calling on Devin Jones, the right-hander threw a wild pitch to the first batter he faced to score Ramos before stranding men at the corners.

Frederick's only two runs of the game came in the second inning against Luke Farrell. Trey Mancini opened things with a single and moved to third on a second base hit by Austin Wynns. Trying to force a throw, Wynns took off for second while Mancini broke for the plate. The throw by Ramon Torres to the plate could not be fielded by Cam Gallagher, tying the game at one. On the same play, Wynns moved up to third after Gallagher's throw to Ramos was dropped. With the table set for Anthony Hewitt, the former Phillies farmhand drove in Wynns with a single through the left side.

Wilmington cracked the scoreboard in their first at-bats thanks to a single by Lopez, a balk, a wild pitch and an infield single by Frank Schwindel.

 Keys starter Luis Gonzalez worked into the sixth inning, giving up two runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five. Cody Reed (2-0) earned the win for Wilmington, tossing four scoreless innings of four-hit baseball. The southpaw struck out five and did not walk a batter. Keller surrendered a run on two hits over 0.1 of an inning in the loss.

The Keys and Blue Rocks continue their four-game series on Friday night at 7:05 p.m Right-hander Jarett Miller (0-0, 5.06) makes the start for Frederick and will be countered by Blue Rocks right-hander Alec Mills (1-0, 1.69). The broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and on frederickkeys.com starting at 6:50. Frederick returns home next Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. when the team hosts the Wilmington Blue Rocks. For ticket information, fans can contact the Keys at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.