Early Ambush Gives Keys Series Win
Published on June 14, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
Woodbridge, Va. -The Frederick Keys batted around in the first inning and finished with 14 hits on the game, as the orange and black defeated the Potomac Nationals 9-7 on Sunday afternoon at Pftizner Stadium. All nine runs came home in the first three innings, as the Keys earned their first road series win over a CL North rival. With seven games remaining in the first- half, the Keys are 3.5 games out of first place, a number that could drop to three or move back to four depending how Wilmington fares against Salem on Sunday night.
Nationals starter Phillips Valdez struggled mightily, and needed 39 pitches to get through the first as the Keys batted around for the fourth time in five games. Josh Hart opened the contest with a bunt single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI base hit by Drew Dosch. Jeff Kemp would then reach on a fielding error before a walk to Tucker Nathans loaded the bases. Dosch would score on a bounce out by Chance Sisco, while a single by Adrian Marin and an error by P-Nats third baseman Drew Ward capped off the inning.
Frederick's final five runs would all come with two outs. Following a double play by Dosch in the second, Kemp got hit by a pitch and Nathans singled to set up a chance for Sisco. Owner of a seven-game hitting streak, the 20-year-old stretched it to eight, with a triple down the first base line.
In the third, the Keys knocked out Valdez (0-2). Following a second double play, the right- hander surrendered a single to Johnny Ruettiger, before a stolen base and a wild pitch advanced the Keys nine-hole man to third. Walks to Hart and Dosch prompted the pitching change, while another wild pitch and a two-run single by Kemp completed the team's scoring.
Valdez allowed nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits over 2.2 innings. He walked four and did not strike out a batter.
His counterpart Chris Lee would complete five innings, but got bogged down in the second, as the P-Nats sent 10 to bat against the former Astros farmhand. Brandon Miller triggered the inning with a double and scored on a single by Ward. After Craig Manuel grounded into a fielder's choice, Lee (2-2) loaded the bases with a walk to James Yezzo, before a single by Estarlin Martinez made it a 6-2 game. Narciso Mesa (sac-fly) and back-to-back walks to Stephen Perez and Isaac Ballou completed the scoring. Although Lee needed more than 30 pitches to escape, the lefty finished strong, retiring the final eight men he faced. He struck out the side in the fifth, and finished with five punch outs. Over five frames he gave up four runs on five hits to go along with four walks.
Potomac plated two in the seventh against Jon Keller after a double, a walk and an error, while a RBI groundout by Miller made it a 9-6 contest. Jimmy Yacabonis tossed a clean eighth, but got lifted in the ninth after allowing a leadoff single to Mesa.
Keys manager, Orlando Gomez turned to his closer, Cody Wheeler, who retired the first two he faced, before plunking both Miller and Ward. Khayyan Norfork followed with a single, but Wheeler got Manuel to groundout to end the game. It was Wheeler's ninth save in 10 chances and gives him the most in the Carolina League.
On Monday night, Frederick begins its final homestand of the first-half as the Carolina Mudcats make their first trip to Nymeo Field. Right-hander David Hess (2-2, 5.37) makes the start for the Keys and will be opposed by Mudcats righty Andrew Waszak (3-4, 2.97). First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and frederickkeys.com. It is Volt Night at the ballpark, as world-renowned chef, Bryan Voltaggio, will operate a concession stand and offer his own unique taste on ballpark cuisine. Voltaggio will also be autographing copies of his new book HOME, while the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Volt foam finger. For tickets, fans can contact the Keys at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.
The Frederick Keys are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play their home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. For more information about the Frederick Keys please contact Geoff Arnold by phone at (301)-815-9915 or by emailing at garnold@frederickkeys.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 14, 2015
- Birds Deny Hillcats Sweep - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Escape with 5-2 Series Clinching Win - Carolina Mudcats
- Sever Homers But Hillcats Fall, 7-1 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Peter Extends Hit Streak to 17, Sparks Last At-Bat Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Rocks Shutout for Second Straight Night as They are Swept by Sox - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Salem Blanks Wilmington Again, 7-0 - Salem Red Sox
- Keys Best P-Nats 9-7 in Sunday Slugfest - Potomac Nationals
- Early Ambush Gives Keys Series Win - Frederick Keys
- June 14 Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Game Notes June 14, 2015, 6:05 P.M at Myrtle Beach - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Mike Broadway Makes MLB Debut After Eleven Years in Minors - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (June 14 at Carolina) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Jordan Weems Activated - Salem Red Sox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
