CarL1 Frederick Keys

Keys Walk off on OHLman's Blast

Published on June 29, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


FREDERICK, Md.- A rain delay, two ejections and a three-run ninth-inning deficit all stood in the way of a Frederick Keys' victory Saturday night. But Michael Ohlman, down to his team's last strike, ensured Frederick would prevail, slugging a walk-off three-run home run to center field that capped a five-run ninth and sent the Keys to a 9-7 win against Winston-Salem.

The Keys (4-5, 38-40) entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 7-4, Winston-Salem (5-4, 43-36) having just added two runs in the top of the inning, but loaded the bases with no outs against Max Peterson, who entered the game at the start of the frame. Johnny Ruettiger then lined an RBI single to center and Peterson was relieved by Jason Van Skike. Anthony Caronia, in his first at-bat of the game, grounded into a force out at second, but beat the relay to first and plated another run.

Sammie Starr was then thrown out at the plate on Nicky Delmonico's ground ball to first, bringing Ohlman to the plate with two outs, runners at first and third and his team trailing 7-6.

Van Skike fired a 2-2 pitch to the Keys' catcher, who hit a high-fly ball that cleared the center field fence, his sixth homer of the season and fifth of the month. Ohlman finished 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs, a double, a homer and a walk.

The win was the Keys' first against Winston-Salem at Harry Grove Stadium this season.

A pair of singles plated runs for the Dash in the top of the ninth, which started after a 34-minute rain delay. During that frame, Keys manager Ryan Minor was tossed by umpire Jorge Teran for arguing a safe call on a stolen base. After Adam Richmond singled home that runner, Teran ejected second baseman Jerome Pena, who caught the relay on the disputed stolen-base call. Caronia replaced Pena.

Gene Escat earned the win for Frederick after allowing two runs in the ninth and improved to 3-4. Peterson (1-4) suffered the loss.

Before the teams combined to score nine runs in the final two innings of the game, pitching had prevailed in front of 6,461 at Harry Grove Stadium. Both starting pitchers carried shutouts into the fifth inning, but neither would leave the frame unscathed.

The Dash scored three runs against Keys starter Zach Davies in the inning, which started with back-to-back singles. Kevan Smith drove home the first run grounding into a force out at second, but beat out a double play, allowing the first run to score. Jeremy Farrell then doubled, moving Smith to third and Rangel Rovelo drove home two more runs with a single to left.

The Keys responded in the bottom half of the inning, cutting Winston-Salem's lead to 3-1 on Sammie Starr's RBI double that scored Cid from first. Dash starter Chris Bassitt then lost the remainder of his lead when Pena blasted a two-out, two-run homer to right field, tying the game at 3-3.

Davies pitched five innings, allowed five hits and walked four, giving up three runs and striking out four. Bassitt struck out 10 Keys over six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks.

The Dash went up 4-3 in the seventh on a fielder's choice that followed Chris Curley's one-out single and Smith's double to left. Farrell hit a grounder to shortstop Starr, who was playing in, but Curley beat his throw home. Jesse Beal, who relieved Davies to start the sixth, worked out of the inning without allowing another run.

Winston-Salem extended its lead to 5-3 in the eighth when David Herbek hit a solo home run off David Price. The Keys cut their deficit to one on Ohlman's RBI single in the eighth, but Nicky Delmonico was thrown out trying to go to third and Ohlman, who advanced on the throw, was stranded at second.

Pena finished 2-for-3 with his ninth homer of the year and Starr and Ruettiger each had two hits. Ruettiger also stole a pair of bases - second and third - in the first inning, improving his total to 23.

The Keys go for a series win against the Dash tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium. Right-hander Luc Rennie starts for the Keys against Dash righty Chris Beck. For tickets, purchase online at FrederickKeys.com, by phone at 301-815-9939 or at the Keys' box office at Harry Grove Stadium.

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Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2013


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