FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Keys took down the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) in 10 innings Thursday Night, winning by a score of 5-4 at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Yasmil Bucce drew the game-winning walk to send home to score Randal Diaz from third, as the Keys took home the game three victory to take a 2-1 series in the first three games.
Bowling Green struck first in the top of the opening frame with a two-run top of the first courtesy of a two-run homer from Nathan Flewelling, handing the visitors a 2-0 advantage through the first inning of play.
Frederick responded however with one run in the bottom of the second thanks to a solo home run from Braylin Tavera, as his 13th homer of the season cut the lead in half at 2-1 approaching the third inning in the Key City.
Following the Keys and Hot Rods going off the board in the third, Keys starting pitcher Evan Yates tossed a third straight scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, keeping it a 2-1 ballgame heading into the fifth in game three of the six-game series.
After both sides went scoreless in the fifth inning, Michael Caldon escaped the jam with a strikeout to end the top of the sixth, allowing the home team in the Keys to enter the seventh only trailing by a run.
With each team finishing with zeros in the seventh, Frederick tied the game at two apiece on an RBI fielder’s choice groundout from Jordan Sanchez, taking the game to the ninth with the score evened at two apiece from Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Cohen Achen went on to work out of a jam in the top of the ninth with a scoreless frame of relief, but a scoreless bottom frame forced the game to extra innings for a second straight night tied at two apiece Thursday night.
The Hot Rods took the lead in the top of the 10th on an RBI double, and then a Keys error made it a two-run game at a 4-2 mark, as the Keys looked for a late rally down by two.
Diaz delivered a two-RBI double in the bottom frame to tie the game at four apiece, and then three batters later, it was Bucce on his birthday who drew a bases-loaded walk to win the game, as the Keys won it 5-4 in 10 innings in game three on Thursday.
The Keys and Hot Rods meet for game four of the six-game series Friday night, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. from Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Friday’s game represents Art in the Park Night with a specialty Jersey Auction benefiting the Frederick Arts Council along with postgame fireworks courtesy of Potomac Edison. The first 500 fans ages 3-12 will also be able to paint their own Keyote Bobblehead.