BROOKLYN, N.Y. - RHP Emilio Obispo surrendered just one earned run over 5.0 frames on Wednesday night, but the Cyclones mustered just four hits in a 5-1 loss to Frederick at Maimonides Park. 3B Colin Houck launched his eighth homer of the season in the defeat.
Obispo held Frederick hitters in check, permitting just two hits over five frames, while walking just two and striking out three. The 20-year-old lowered his High-A ERA on the campaign to an impressive 3.67.
Still, Brooklyn struggled to come up with the big hit, as the ‘Clones finished just 1-for-7 with men in scoring position.
The Keys wasted little time hopping out to an early lead. SS D.J. Layton reached on an error to begin the ballgame, before proceeding to steal both 2nd and 3rd base. He’d then come home to score from 3rd on an errant pickoff throw to first from Obispo to give the Keys a 1-0 lead.
One of Brooklyn’s best offensive frames came in the 1st, as two of the first three reached thanks to a double from SS Sammy Stafura and a single from CF Aiden Robbins. Still, RHP Evan Yates then struck out the next two batters to thwart the threat. Brooklyn did not collect another hit until Houck’s homer in the 8th. Yates improved to 2-1 at the High-A level, spinning 5.0 shutout innings, and allowing only two hits.
The Keys doubled their lead in the 4th. With men on the corners and two outs, C Yasmil Bucce slapped an RBI infield single to short, pushing the Frederick lead to 2-0.
In the 6th, the Keys put more distance between themselves and Brooklyn. With LHP Luis R. Rodriguez on in relief, CF Ty Head got the inning started with a single. He’d steal 2nd, before 2B Jaiden Lo Re drove him home on a ground ball up the middle.
C Chase Meggers would throw behind the runner at 2nd in time to take Lo Re off the bases. Still, 1B Elis Cuevas was hit by a pitch and stole 2nd. After Bucce drew a walk, a single from RF Jordan Sanchez made it a 4-0 ballgame.
In the 8th, pinch-hitter Andrés Nolaya took RHP Calvin Ziegler deep for the first pinch-hit home run against Brooklyn since the Cyclones became a full-season affiliate.
Brooklyn got a run back in the 8th to spoil the shutout on the Houck home run, but could not scratch anything further across the rest of the way.
The Cyclones and Keys continue their series on Thursday at 4:00 at Maimonides Park. Brooklyn will send RHP Joel Díaz (0-6, 6.29 ERA) to the mound against LHP Boston Bateman (4-3, 3.46 ERA).