Keys Throttle Dash 13-4
The game started as a pitcher's duel, much like the contest the night before. Matt Wickswat retired six of the first seven batters he faced until Ward led off the third with a single and scored on Jonathan Schoop's RBI double.
Things took a turn for the worse for Wickswat (5-3) and the Dash in the fourth. Frederick (29-18, 70-46) put runners on the corners with two outs before Ward smoked a first pitch fastball over the fence in left field for a three-run home run. Wickswat's tough frame continued with a walk, an RBI double, and a two-run homer by Schoop that gave the Keys a 7-0 lead.
While Frederick's hitters battered Wickswat, Ryohei Tanaka mystified the Winston-Salem (26-20, 58-58) offense. Tanaka (8-4) took a perfect game into the sixth inning before walking Kevin Dubler to start the frame. After a sacrifice bunt, Daniel Wagner broke up the no-hit and shutout bids with a run-scoring single to center field to get the Dash on the scoreboard.
Frederick scored a run in the bottom of the sixth against J.R. Ballinger to re-up its lead to seven runs.
The Dash attempted a comeback in the seventh, scoring three times off a Dubler home run and a base hit by Wagner to make it 8-4, but the Keys quashed any Winston momentum in the bottom of the inning. Frederick batted a round for the second time in the ballgame, scoring five times on five hits, a walk, and an error to put the game out of reach. The seventh inning along took more than 40 minutes to complete.
Tanaka, who allowed one run on one hit and a walk over six innings, earned the win, bouncing back from a rough outing at BB&T Ballpark on Sunday. Wickswat suffered his second straight loss to Frederick, yielding seven runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. In his last two starts against the Keys, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 14.54.
While Tanaka starred on the mound, his battery mate Ward was the offensive hero. He went 2 for 3 with a three-run home run, two walks, a stolen base, and three runs scored.
The loss, in combination with Kinston's 6-2 win over Salem, cut the Dash's lead in the Southern Division to one game.
The series continues on Saturday night when RHP Cameron Bayne (11-4, 3.09) goes for his league-leading 12th win against LHP Rick Zagone (2-1 3.14). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the audio broadcast begins at 6:45 at www.wsdash.com.
The Dash return to BB&T Ballpark for a pair of games against the Lynchburg Hillcats on Monday, August 15 at 6 p.m. Fans may purchase tickets for every game this season by calling the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or by visiting www.wsdash.com.