Keys' Sedlock cruises to first professional win

As Cody Sedlock worked into the sixth inning Saturday, he found himself in uncharted waters.
Never before in his professional career had Sedlock pitched more than three innings in a game.
That didn't shake his confidence, however, as the No. 2 Orioles prospect rattled off six scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing only three baserunners in Class A Advanced Frederick's 5-1 win over Carolina at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.

Box score
 "It was a very strong outing and a lot of what I saw in Spring Training," Keys pitching coach Blaine Beatty said. "Just seasoned, really solid early in the game. One of his things that we worked on was his ability to make sure that he had a solid start from the beginning. He was one of those guys that kind of struggled a bit early, where he threw a lot of pitches early in the game. And he did a really nice job of going six strong innings today.
"I just thought he really mixed his pitches well and kept hitters off-balance all day. It was a pretty good club that he faced."
Despite issuing a four-pitch leadoff walk to Brewers No. 6 prospectTrent Clark to start the day, the 2016 first-round pick fanned the next two batters, setting the tone for the rest of the outing.
Sedlock consistently worked ahead in the count, throwing first-pitch strikes to 13 of the 20 Mudcats he faced. The University of Illinois product had his 60-grade fastball working from the outset, but the rest of his repertoire kept Carolina off-balance.
"It was his fastball, really good sinker, below the zone," Beatty said. "He had several swings and misses with the sinker. Really nice slider that he threw in all counts and he threw some really good changeups. His curveball is a fourth pitch, it's a work-in-progress. But I expect to see more of it as he progresses at this level."
On the rare occasion he did get in trouble, Sedlock minimized it. In the sixth, he gave up a leadoff single to Troy Stokes Jr., who stole second. But the 21-year-old retired the next three hitters and turned a 3-0 lead over to his bullpen.
"He looked like he might have tired a little bit in the sixth, but he composed himself," Beatty said. "He kept himself together and he executed the pitches he needed to get through that inning."
With an adept knowledge of the game and impressive talent, Sedlock can look toward improving on the 3.00 ERA he posted in his first Minor League season. It might even get him promoted sooner rather than later.
"He's just got it together," Beatty said. "I will say this: last year we didn't extend him a whole lot, he was more of a three-inning guy. And this year, this is his longest outing probably as a professional and I expect a lot of good things from this kid. And, hopefully, he's not with me too long.

"I'm going to speak from a personal level where this kid gets it. He is definitely in tune with his abilities. What a great guy to work with as far as talking about the game. He's very advanced where it comes to his pitchability and his plan of attack with what he's doing. Really, really got it together. He really knows his approach and kind of nailing down his pregame routine a little bit. Wow, what a really neat kid."
After Mitch Horacek gave up a run in the seventh, Cory Jones struck out two over two scoreless innings to close out the win.
Steve Wilkerson went 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks for the Keys, while No. 25 Brewers prospect Jake Gatewood homered for Carolina.