9th-inning homer leads Frederick past Woodies Friday night
Josh Altmann of the Down East Wood Ducks hits a solo home run in the third inning of Friday's 6-4 loss against the Frederick Keys at Historic Grainger Stadium. Photo by William 'Bud' Hardy / Neuse News
The Down East Wood Ducks are finding new – and more painful – ways to lose.
Frederick catcher Stuart Levy mashed a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to lead the Keys (14-22 second half, 49-56 overall) past the hard-luck Woodies, 6-4, in front of 2,220 fans at Historic Grainger Stadium Friday night. The loss was the Wood Ducks’ third straight on the heels of an 11-game losing streak that preceded back-to-back wins earlier this week.
The teams swapped leads three times in the game with the DEWDs (11-25, 46-60) jumping out to a 2-0 lead after three innings thanks to an RBI single by Eric Jenkins in the second and a solo home run from Josh Altmann – his 19th of the season – in the third.
Frederick jumped ahead 3-2 in the fourth following a two-run homer from Wilson Garcia and a solo shot by Preston Palmeiro. Chuck Leblanc had an RBI in each of the fourth and fifth innings to push the Woodies’ lead to 4-3 to set up Frederick’s fireworks in the ninth.
Both teams finished with 10 hits; Leody Taveras, Leblanc and Melvin Novoa had two hits each to lead the Woodies while Garcia’s three hits and T.J. Nichting and Jomar Reyes had two hits apiece for Frederick.
Southpaw closer Tyler Erwin earned the save for Frederick, his 13th of the season. It came in relief of Matt Trowbridge, who threw 2.1 innings of two-hit relief to improve to 4-1.
Jason Bahr appeared to be on his way to his first win of the season for the Woodies before Locke St. John gave up the home run to Levy. The blown save was St. John’s first of the season as his record dropped to 4-3.
The Woodies and Keys will play the second of their three-game series Saturday at Grainger Stadium. The Wood Ducks are hosting a camouflaged jersey giveaway, sponsored by Mountain Dew. The first 1,000 fans will receive the jersey; gates open at 4 p.m., and the first pitch is at 6.