Ramblers fend off Bellevue in extras

In what has become a regularity in Key West-Bellevue match ups, Bellevue star Chet Knake tagged yet another Rambler pitcher for a home run -- the latest one coming on Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of the Farley Tournament. His seventh-inning solo blast tied the score, 1-1, and extended the game to an eighth inning.

But the Ramblers gave starting pitcher Andrew Redman more than enough support in a five-run top of the eighth that put the game out of reach. Redman struck out the side in the bottom half, sandwiching in a single, to close the door and eliminate Bellevue by a 6-1 score.

Tyler Sincock got the Key West (12-1) eighth started with a lead off single. After back-to-back walks by Dan Spain and Tim Carty, Michael Jimenez smoked a ground ball to third that looked like a potential 5-2-3 double play. But the third baseman's throw went to the backstop and allowed Sincock and Spain to trot home to give the Ramblers a 3-1 advantage. Chris Briggs added the icing on the cake with a two-run triple to give the Ramblers a comfy 5-1 lead. Cory Davidson added the final tally with a RBI ground out.

Redman, whose ERA now sits at a microscopic 0.87, was his usual dominant self on Tuesday. The righty gave up just three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Bellevue did not record its first hit until the fifth inning. Opposing batters are now hitting only .134 against Redman this season.

The Ramblers got their first run on a RBI double by Matt Knabel. Briggs was Key West's star at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBIs.

Key West now advances to the semifinals of the Farley Tournament where it will face Cascade on Friday at 8:30 p.m. Cascade defeated Balltown and East Dubuque to reach Friday's semifinal. Key West is 2-0 versus Cascade this season.