FREDERICK, MD - A wild ninth inning saw the Frederick Keys (13-24, 41-64) climb out with a 3-1 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (20-19, 41-65) on Monday night at TicketReturn.com Field. After the Keys and Pelicans traded eight scoreless innings, Frederick scored three runs in the span of five
FREDERICK, MD - A wild ninth inning saw the Frederick Keys (13-24, 41-64) climb out with a 3-1 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (20-19, 41-65) on Monday night at TicketReturn.com Field. After the Keys and Pelicans traded eight scoreless innings, Frederick scored three runs in the span of five pitches and held off a late surge by Myrtle Beach as Tim Naughton (S, 6) stranded the bases loaded. With runners at the corners, Naughton walked D.J. Artis on four pitches to load the bases, but then struck out Delvin Zinn on three pitches to seal the victory.
In the top of the ninth, Zach Jarrett hit a double to right field to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Jomar Reyes then lined a single to centerfield to score Jarrett and give the Keys a 1-0 lead. A batter later, Robert Neustrom slugged his first Carolina League home run to make it 3-0.
The Pelicans did not go out without a fight. After Luis Perez (5-1) got the first two-outs of the inning, Aramis Ademan tripled and later scored on Wladimir Galindo's RBI single to put the Pelicans on the board. Perez then threw two wild pitches and advanced pinch-runner Jose Gutierrez to third. He walked Kevonte Mitchell on four pitches before he was relieved by Naughton.
Perez gave up just one other hit, walked three and struck out three in 3.2 innings, earning the win.
The three runs for the Keys came within five pitches from Tyler Peyton (0-3), who allowed the three runs but threw just 10 pitches, all for strikes, over two innings.
Keys' starter Cameron Bishop dealt with traffic most of the night but held the Pelicans off the board. He stranded a runner at third in the fourth inning and picked up a pair of strikeouts in the fifth. Bishop struck out five and gave up four hits and two walks in five shutout innings.
Jack Patterson was solid for the Pelicans, allowing just three base runners while striking out nine in five innings.
Neustrom ended his night with three of the Keys' six hits, while the Pelicans went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The Keys and Pelicans continue their three-game series on Wednesday, July 31. RHP Blaine Knight (0-8, 5.91) takes the mound for the Keys opposite RHP Alexander Vargas (2-2, 4.25). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm, with pregame coverage starting at 6:50pm on frederickkeys.com and the Tune In radio app.
