WILMINGTON, DE (8/21/26) — The Wilmington Blue Rocks beat the Frederick Keys, 1-0, Friday night at Frawley Stadium. Wilmington wins game one of the doubleheader to make for Thursday’s postponement.

Wilmington improved to 58-58 overall and 27-24 in the second half. Frederick drops to 71-42 overall and 30-19 in the second half. Wilmington with the game one victory are now just two games back of a playoff spot, but behind both the Brooklyn Cyclones and Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Frederick was carrying a one walk no-hitter into the seventh inning after the recently traded Kyson Witherspoon tossed eight strikeouts in just five innings. Wilmington didn’t have an answer all game until the bottom of the seventh.

Luke Dickerson reached on a lead-off double that immediately put a runner in scoring position. Then Angel Feliz grounded out, setting up Jacob Walsh with the opportunity to win the game.

Walsh took the first pitch he saw and ripped it down the first base line allowing Dickerson to score and Wilmington to win game one of the double header.

"Luke came up with a big hit and a bigger hit from Walsh," Wilmington manager Ted Tom said.

Wilmington's pitching was on point during Friday afternoon. Between Miguel Sime Jr., Eriq Swan, Austin Amaral and Jacob Roberts, Blue Rocks pitching combined for 14 strikeouts while allowing just three hits all game.

Sime opened the game strong with six strikeouts in just three innings. Sime did allow four walks but overall looked sharp, working his way out of jams while allowing just two hits.

Eriq Swan contributed a solid inning of work, striking out two batters in the fourth inning. Austin Amaral held things down in the fifth and sixth innings. Amaral struck out four and only allowed one hit. Jacob Roberts earned the win with another two strikeouts.

"Our pitchers were unbelievable this game," Tom said. "Sime really battled and competed with a little bit of command issues, but he was able to compete for the time. Amaral was great. Roberts was great at the end, I think, and Swan was outstanding."

Roberts' performance was another positive outing for a pitcher Tom said has started to regain his confidence after struggling earlier in the season.

"He's had a couple in a row now that have been really good," Tom said. "Sometimes guys forget how good they are and you got to give them that confidence and you got to speak it into existence. He's really, really talented, lost track of it a little bit, got it back, and you were able to see that today."

The Blue Rocks had to wait until the final inning to finally break through against Frederick's pitching. Witherspoon dominated for five innings, but Tom said Wilmington's approach didn't change despite the right-hander's success.

"You just keep competing and trying to execute your plan," Tom said. "Lots of times in this game, the pitcher's going to win when he executes."

Witherspoon eventually reached his pitch limit, allowing Wilmington to face a new pitcher in the seventh.

"Fortunately, he ran out of pitches and they put in a new guy," Tom said. "Sometimes that's what you need to kind of take a deep breath and rebuild that confidence."

The Blue Rocks will now turn their attention to Game 2, looking to carry the momentum of the walk-off victory into the second half of Friday's doubleheader.

"It's a really good start to the day," Tom said. "Take a breath, get something to eat and re-energize and be ready to rock.