LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Frederick Keys shutout the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) Friday night, winning game four of the six-game series by a score of 2-0 at ShoreTown Ballpark.
The Keys held the BlueClaws to only four base hits throughout the night while recording 10 strikeouts as a team, as Frederick secured the series win after winning the first four games on the road in the Garden State.
Following a 49-minute weather delay to start the game due to inclement weather, JT Quinn recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning on the mound, allowing the contest to stay scoreless through an inning of play from Lakewood.
After both teams went off the board in the second, Quinn worked out of trouble in the third with another scoreless frame in the bottom of the third, keeping it a 0-0 game in three innings during game four of the six-game series.
Randal Diaz put Frederick ahead by one in the top of the fourth on an RBI groundout to short, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead approaching the fifth inning from ShoreTown Ballpark.
With the Keys and BlueClaws finishing with zeros in the fifth inning, JT Quinn capped off his 5.2 innings of scoreless ball with his seventh strikeout on the last batter he faced, taking the game into the seventh with Frederick still ahead 1-0.
Colin Tuft brought home a second Keys run on an RBI groundout to third base in the top of the seventh, increasing the advantage for the Keys up to 2-0 entering the eighth from the Shore.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Keys turned a crucial double play to leave the bases loaded for Jersey Shore, as Frederick headed into the ninth still ahead by two, looking to hold on to the tight lead on the road.
Following a scoreless top of the ninth inning, Bradley Brehmer recorded a scoreless bottom of the ninth to get the Keys the shutout victory, as Frederick hung on for the 2-0 win Friday night to secure the series win in ShoreTown.
The Keys and BlueClaws will meet for the fifth time in as many days Saturday night for game five of the six-game series, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at ShoreTown Ballpark.