Myrtle Beach Starter Joe Van Meter Stymies Keys Bats with Flawless Performance
FREDERICK, MD – After trailing by a sizable 5-0 deficit after two innings, the Frederick Keys went on to lose big, 8-0, to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday night at Harry Grove Stadium.
Myrtle Beach starter Joe Van Meter completely stymied the bats of Frederick as he allowed no runs on two hits and one walk while also striking out six.
Through six innings of play, Frederick had just four base runners as they could not get anything going offensively, getting shut out for the seventh time this season.
The Keys have now lost four in a row against the Pelicans, scoring a paltry six runs in that span.
The loss puts Frederick at 22-24 in the second half of the year, but they still remain in first place in the North Division standings.
Myrtle Beach took an early lead through costly fielding errors by Frederick to start. Of Myrtle Beach’s five early runs, only two of them were earned. The five run gap proved to be too much for the Keys to overcome.
The Pelicans led 1-0 after the first inning after Odubel Herrera reached on a throwing error from first baseman Tyler Townsend. Then with two outs in the inning, Brett Nicholas hit a double off of starting pitcher Tim Berry to score Herrera and put Myrtle Beach on top.
The game was opened up in the second, again on errors, as the Pelicans scored four times in the inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead. After Tomas Telis doubled, Jeremy Williams reached on a throwing error from Michael Mosby to put runners on the corners with no one out. Josh Richmond hit the first runner home and Herrera followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 3-0. After a sacrifice fly from Teodoro Martinez brought in a fourth run, Hanser Alberto singled to put Myrtle Beach on top 5-0.
The Keys were never able to recover, especially with their offense floundering against Van Meter. Of the Keys’ eight hits, six of them came against the bullpen.
Frederick will look to get back in the win column with Tyler Wilson (5-5, 3.52 ERA) on the mound. He’ll take on former Key Randy Henry (5-7, 2.60 ERA).
First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM and live coverage starts at 5:40 on 1450-AM The Source.
