Timely hits, strong pitching key win over Dubuque

Sean O'Connor kept his unbeaten streak alive as the Ramblers avenged a May 28 loss to Dubuque by trumping the Blues, 3-2, on Saturday night in the first round of the Farley Tournament.

O'Connor pitched a complete game (seven innings) to improve his mark to 4-0. He gave up two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks and struck out four. At, the plate, third baseman Michael Jimenez cracked the game-winning hit in the fifth inning that capped the scoring in Saturday's affair.

Key West (11-1) fell behind early on when sloppy defense helped Dubuque put up an unearned run in the top of the first inning. The Blue's Ben Tressel led off with a single and advanced to second on an errant pick off throw to first. Back-to-back ground outs plated Tressel to make the score 1-0.

Dubuque then made it 2-0 on Matt Asche's RBI double in the second. Mike Hoerner was plunked to begin the inning. Hoerner then moved to second on Seth Hoerner's sacrifice bunt.

But Dubuque's lead would be short-lived. The Ramblers came back with two runs in the bottom of the second. With one out, Justin Kuhle walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cam Stewart drove Kuhle in with a double to the right-center gap. Two batters later, designated hitter Kenny Capesius' single to center knocked in Stewart with two outs to tie the game.

The game remained tied until Jimenez's double to right field chased Andrew Redman to the plate for the deciding run off of Dubuque starting pitcher Mark Hennessy.

Stewart finished the game 2-for-3, as did shortstop Dan Spain, who singled twice.

The Ramblers return to action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the second round of the Farley Tournament. Key West will take on Bellevue, who defeated Dyersville 4-0 on Saturday.