CarL1 Frederick Keys

Rowell Comes Through in the Clutch

Published on June 2, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


The Keys avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pelicans in dramatic fashion. With two men in the bottom of the ninth, 3B Billy Rowell drove home 1B Joe Mahoney on a single to rightfield off of LHP Chad Rodgers. With the 3-2 win, Frederick improved to 30-23 and kept their lead in the Northern Division at six games. Myrtle Beach fell to 18-35 in the defeat.

LHP Rick Zagone picked up where he left off a week ago in Wilmington. Zagone cruised through the first five innings striking out four and allowing no runs on just two hits.

Frederick gave Zagone some runs to work with in the first inning. With one out and two on, CF Xavier Avery and SS Greg Miclat were put into motion. Avery slid safely into third and then proceeded home after C Matt Kennelly's throw went into the outfield. Miclat moved over to third on the Kennelly throwing error. 1B Joe Mahoney brought home Miclat on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Mahoney sac-fly gave the Keys a two-run advantage after one.

Miclat's run would be the last one Frederick would score until much later in the contest.

Leading 2-0 into the top of the sixth, Myrtle Beach finally got to Zagone. LF Cole Miles and 3B Dan Nelson each singled to lead off the inning. After a Travis Jones fly out to right, 1B Mike Jones put the Pelicans on the board. Jones singled home Miles from second and moved Nelson over to third. The next batter up, DH Samuel Sime, tied up the game with another RBI single. Matt Kennelly flew out to centerfield for the second out of the inning and that was the last batter Zagone would face on the night.

Zagone threw 5 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one.

Zagone's counterpart, Oberholtzer, finished his evening with a scoreless sixth. He finished up allowing two runs, one earned, over six innings. He struck out five and walked none in the start.

Neither the Keys nor the Pelicans would score in the seventh or eighth, setting up a dramatic finish at Harry Grove Stadium.

RHP Jose Diaz came in for the ninth after RHP Sean Gleason allowed just one hit in his 2 1/3 innings of work. Diaz worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth as the teams remained tied at two entering the bottom of the inning.

Joe Mahoney set the stage with a double over the head of the LF Cole Miles. After a Ronnie Welty strikeout and Miguel Abreu intentional walk, Billy Rowell stepped the plate. Entered Wednesday's game, Rowell was just 2 for his last 26 at the plate. With a single already in the game, Rowell drove the Rodgers pitch into rightfield for a base hit. Manager Orlando Gomez immediately sent Mahoney as he was motoring around from second. Miles' throw from leftfield was offline and Mahoney slid in for the winning run.

The Keys 3-2 win put an end to a four-game losing streak and kept them six games ahead in the Northern Division as Frederick heads into a critical four-game set with Lynchburg starting Thursday night in Frederick.

RHP Ryan Berry (1-0, 0.00) gets the start in game one against the Hillcats on Thursday night. Lynchburg will send RHP Curtis Partch (2-4, 3.73) to the hill. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. on Thirsty Thursday at Harry Grove Stadium. For tickets call 1-877-8-GO-KEYS or purchase online at www.frederickkeys.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 2, 2010


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