Keys Rally Falls Short, Get Swept at Home
April 29, 2012 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
FREDERICK, MD - Trailing 7-3 entering the ninth inning, the Keys rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but ultimately fell one run short, losing 7-6 to the Lynchburg Hillcats.
The loss completes a sweep for the Lynchburg Hillcats and it's now the fourth straight loss for the Keys. It's the first time since July of 2010 the Keys were swept at home. In their past eleven games, the Keys have lost nine times.
Yet the Keys nearly bucked that losing trend when they started to rally in the ninth inning. Trailing by four entering the inning, the Keys fell just one run short a comeback. Garabez Rosa and Jeremy Nowak started the comeback when they singled to get on base. Aaron Baker, with one out, then hit a line drive homerun over the right field wall to instantly cut the deficit to one. Yet relief pitcher Juan Jaime promptly retired the next two batters to end the game and put the Keys back in the loss column.
Keys starting pitcher Scott Copeland, who came in with a 1.83 ERA is charged with the loss after going 5.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs on twelve hits.
The Keys held the lead early in the game when in the second inning, they put three runs on the board to lead 3-2. Two Lynchburg errors were responsible for two of the Keys' runs.
Yet the Keys couldn't hold the lead for very long as the Hillcats tied the score at three in their next at-bat thanks to an RBI single from Tommy La Stella after Matt Lipka and Tim Smith led off the inning with back-to-back singles.
Two innings later, they took the lead for good back-to-back doubles from La Stella and Evan Gattis brought home two more runs to give Lynchburg a 5-3 edge.
Two more runs were tacked on by Lynchburg in the next inning as they led comfortably 7-3 at that point. A solo homerun from Matt Weaver and a walk to Gattis with the bases loaded which forced in a run gave Lynchburg their four-run cushion.
That lead proved to be just enough in allowing Lynchburg to hold on for a 7-6 win.
The Keys will try and get out of their current funk tomorrow night at Harry Grove Stadium as Mike Wright (3-1, 2.86 ERA) takes the mound for Frederick and he'll face Myrtle Beach's Nick Tepesch (1-2, 2.95 ERA).
First pitch is slated for 7:00 PM and live coverage starts at 6:40 with the On Deck Show on 1450 AM The Source and online at WTHU.org.
Carolina League Stories from April 29, 2012
- Salem Completes Sweep of Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Couch Controls Carolina & Sox Sweep Cats - Salem Red Sox
- Dash Take Seventh Straight in Weekend Sweep - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys Rally Falls Short, Get Swept at Home - Frederick Keys
- Dash Whack Rocks, Extend Win Streak to 7 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Survive Late Scare, Win 7-6 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Swynenberg Masterful in P-Nats Win - Potomac Nationals
- Swynenberg Shuts Down Pelicans in Complete Game - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Mudcats Game Notes - April 29 - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
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