Keys clinch Carolina League North Second Half Crown with 19-8 victory over Lynchburg
August 31, 2005 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
Frederick, MD -- The Frederick Keys (40-24) clinched the Carolina League North second half crown, earning their first home playoff game since 2000, in a slugfest, as they defeated the Lynchburg Hillcats (34-31) 19-8.
The Keys offense found their groove for the second consecutive night, as four different Keys had three hits, including Mario Delgado and Jeff Fiorentino who each hit two home runs in the Keys second consecutive 20 hit game. The Keys have recorded 35 runs and 41 hits in the first two games of their four games series with Lynchburg, the team they are scheduled to meet in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs.
The Hillcats got off to a fast start, as Pat Magness hit a two-run home run to left center field, off James Johnson, in the top of the first inning, but the Keys offense was once again too strong.
Jeff Fiorentino set the pace for the Keys offense leading off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to right field off Wardell Starling. Gera Alvarez doubled to left center, before Branden Florence drove him in with a single to left field. Mario Delgado then hit a two-run shot over the right field wall, giving the Keys a 4-2 lead.
The Hillcats kept the offensive battle going in the top of the second inning, as Justin Harris singled and later scored when Nyjer Morgan tripled to right field.
But for the second straight night, the Keys continued pour it on, as Bryan Bass led off the bottom of the second with a single. Travis Brown followed with his third home run of the season, giving the Keys a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning the Keys added another run when Jarod Rine when Taber Lee booted Brian Bock's grounder to second base.
The Keys tied a season-high with seven hits in in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring seven runs as Fiorentino hit a two-run home run off Yoann Torrealba, his second of the game and 22nd of the season. Later, Delgado hit a two-run double down right field line to score Alvarez and Branden Florence. Brian Bock then singled to drive in Rine, putting the Keys in front 13-3.
Neil Walker doubled down the left field line to drive in a run for the Hillcats in the top of the seventh. But the Keys added five more in the bottom of the seventh, highlighted by two-run homers from both Alvarez and Delgado, to give the Keys a commanding 18-4 lead.
The Hillcats put four runs on the board in the top of the eighth inning against Jeff Montani, as Justin Harris came through with a two-run single, but the Keys lead proved to be too steep a hill to climb.
Fiorentino recorded his third hit of the night in the bottom of the eighth before scoring his fourth run on Florence's double to right field, as the Keys went on to win 19-8.
Johnson (12-9) earned the victory, lasting 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out nine.
Starling (9-10) took the loss, giving up nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits over 5.1 innings.
The Keys continue their series with the Hillcats on Thursday, as LHP Garrett Olson takes the mound against the Landon Jacobsen at 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow evening's game will feature post-game Fireworks presented by Countrywide Home Loans.
KEYNOTES: The Keys have scored 35 runs and recorded 41 hits over the past two nights, the most recorded in back-to-back games all season...With his two home runs tonight Mario Delgado has moved into sole possession of the second highest single-season home run total in Frederick Keys history, behind only Stanton Cameron, who hit 29 in 1992...Jeff Fiorentino's two home runs and three RBI's give him 12 HR's and 33 RBI's in the month of August.
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