Fajardo Hits Walk-Off Home Run in Final Game of First Half
June 17, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
FREDERICK, MD - Daniel Fajardo hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Frederick Keys (35-34) a 4-3 win over the Down East Wood Ducks (35-35) on Sunday afternoon. The win gave the Keys a winning record in the first half as the Keys won 10 of their final 11 games going into the break.
After Locke St. John retired the first two men of the ninth, Fajardo came up to bat. With two strikes, the Keys catcher launched a solo home run to left field to give the Keys their third walk-off win of the year, and their second of the homestand.
The Wood Ducks jumped out to an early lead against Keys starter Mike Baumann. Leody Taveras hit a one-out single and stole a base. He then scored on an Anderson Tejeda single. Two batters later, Josh Altmann made it a 3-0 game with a two-run home run.
Frederick responded with a run in the bottom of the first. T.J. Nichting led off with a double. He would advance to third on a ground out, and then scored on Wilson Garcia sacrifice fly.
The score remained 3-1 until the Keys tied it up in the fifth. Alejandro Juvier led things off with a single. Stuart Levy then reached on a single, and was retired at second on a fielder's choice that allowed Nichting to reach. Two batters later, Garcia laced a double to center field that plated Juvier and Nichting.
Baumann allowed three runs over five innings, while the Keys combined to shutout the Wood Ducks over the final eight innings. Lucas Humpal fired 2.1 scoreless innings, while Tyler Erwin (1-2) picked up the win in 1.2 innings of relief. St. John (2-2) took the loss after surrendering the walk-off blast.
Frederick will send five players to the Carolina League All-Star game in Zebulon, N.C. on Tuesday. Starting pitchers Cristian Alvarado and Alex Wells will join Erwin on the pitching staff while Ryan McKenna and Preston Palmeiro will represent the Keys position players.
Following the break, the Keys will begin a four-game series in Salem starting on Thursday. They return home for a nine-game homestand on June 25 when the Winston-Salem Dash come to Nymeo Field for the first time in 2018. For tickets, fans can call 301-815-9939 or 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. In 2017, the Keys received the Esurance Home Field Advantage Award for Carolina League for the second straight season, after leading the circuit in highest percentage of attendance based on ballpark capacity. The club will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2018. For more information about the Frederick Keys please contact Geoff Arnold by phone at (301)-815-9915 or by emailing at GArnold@FrederickKeys.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 17, 2018
- Mudcats Close out Half with 3-2 Victory in Myrtle Beach - Carolina Mudcats
- Birds Fall in the First-Half Finale 3-2 to Carolina - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Wilmington Blasts Winston 10-1 in First-Half Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
- Sox Snip Hillcats 3-2 in First-Half Finale - Salem Red Sox
- Offense Erupts in First Half Series Finale - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hillcats Edged by Red Sox 3-2 to Close First Half - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Fajardo Hits Walk-Off Home Run in Final Game of First Half - Frederick Keys
- Potomac Ends First Half with 4-2 Victory - Potomac Nationals
- June 17 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, June 17 vs. Carolina - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (June 17 vs. Wilmington) - Winston-Salem Dash
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