CarL1 Frederick Keys

Errors, Walks and Wild Pitches Fuel Lynchburg Comeback

Published on July 1, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


FREDERICK, MD - The Frederick Keys (34-47/5-7) saw a two-run lead disappear in a 4-3 loss to the Lynchburg Hillcats (39-40/7-5) on Monday night at Nymeo Field. The Hillcats comeback was fueled by walks, an error, two wild pitches and a ninth inning single. DL Hall walked four batters, but turned in five innings and allowed one unearned run in a no-decision.

With the Keys leading 3-1, Lynchburg tied up the game in the top of the seventh. Needing just one more out to escape the inning, Zach Matson allowed a single to Tyler Freeman before back-to-back walks loaded up the bases. That sent up Will Benson who chopped a ball to deep first. J.C. Escarra was not able to make the play, allowing two runs to score.

A lineout double play saw the Keys come up empty in the bottom of the eighth against Evan Mitchell, while Lynchburg went ahead for good in the ninth. Matthias Dietz walked leadoff batter Steven Kwan, who advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches. Two batters later, Nolan Jones single softly up the middle past a drawn-in infield. Overall, Keys pitching walked eight batters for the fourth time in the last week.

An error by Yeltsin Gudino at shortstop, helped Lynchburg score first off of Hall. After Freeman was safe at second on a missed catch, Gavin Collins collected an RBI single to make it 1-0.

Frederick countered in the bottom of the first thanks to a pair of Hillcats miscues by the shortstop Freeman. A throwing error helped Trevor Craport reach to open the inning, while a free pass by Justin Garza and a single helped the Keys load the bases. Ryan Ripken then brought home a run on a fielder's choice, while a throwing error by Freeman scored Escarra to make it 2-1 Keys.

The Keys added one more run in the third on an error by Luke Wakamatsu and an RBI double by Craport.

Dietz (1-8) suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit in 2.1 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Mitchell (1-0) posted 2.2 scoreless innings of three-hit baseball to earn the win and Aaron Pinto pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save. Hall struck out seven in his five innings of work and retired the final three batters in the fifth on eight pitches.

Frederick and Lynchburg continue their three-game series on Tuesday night at Nymeo Field. Right-hander Brenan Hanifee (5-7, 4.74) starts for the Keys and will be opposed by Hillcats left-hander Hector Hernandez (0-1, 2.84). First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard on frederickkeys.com and the TuneIn app. For ticket information, fans can visit frederickkeys.com.

The Frederick Keys are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play their home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Following the 2018 season, the Keys were named the winner of the Carolina League's Complete Franchise Award. This goes to a team in the league which demonstrates franchise stability and significant contributions to its community and the league. In 2019, the team will host the Carolina League All-Star Classic presented by Visit Frederick. For more information about the Frederick Keys please contact Geoff Arnold by phone at (301)-815-9915 or by emailing at GArnold@FrederickKeys.com.

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Carolina League Stories from July 1, 2019


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