WILMINGTON, DE – With Wilmington’s bottom third of the lineup going 7-for-12, they were able to produce the go-ahead run help the Blue Rocks to a 4-2 win over the Frederick Keys.
The loss snaps Frederick’s three-game win streak as they were in pursuit of their first four game win streak of the year and first since August 13th of last year.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with the score tied at two, the last three in the lineup for Wilmington were instrumental in putting the Blue Rocks on top. With a runner on first base and two outs against reliever Andy Loomis, the number seven hitter in Juan Graterol hit a double to keep the inning going and to put two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch from Loomis brought in the go-ahead run before the number eight hitter, Geulin Beltre, drove in an insurance run to make 4-2.
With the bottom third of the lineup getting on base so often, they accounted for three of Wilmington’s four runs scored.
Giving up the two runs in the pivotal sixth inning, Loomis (1-1, 2.63 ERA) is charged with the loss while Jason Adam (3-10, 3.65 ERA) gets the win.
The Keys record in the second half slips to 15-17 but are just one game back of first place.
With the score tied at one entering the fifth inning, Wilmington took the lead by forcing in a run with the bases loaded after Orlando Calixte was hit by a pitch from Loomis, which gave the Blue Rocks a 2-1 lead.
In the Keys very next at-bat Jeremy Nowak tied the score when he hit his fourth home run of the year to deep right-center field.
Yet the moment was short-lived as that’s when Wilmington’s bottom third of the lineup came through to give the Blue Rocks a 4-2 advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning, one they kept throughout the game.
The Keys will try and bounce back tomorrow afternoon from Frawley Stadium as LHP Trent Howard (2-6, 5.18 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Elisaul Pimentel (2-1, 3.81 ERA) for a 12 PM start time.
