CarL1 Frederick Keys

Keys Take Series with 4-3 Win

Published on June 26, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA. - For the first time in the second half, the Frederick Keys (3-4, 32-44) took a three-game set with a 4-3 rubber match victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats (4-3, 36-38) on Wednesday night at Calvin Falwell Field. With the game tied 3-3 in the seventh, Daniel Fajardo climbed aboard with a double and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Zach Jarrett then lined the first pitch he saw back up the middle to give the Keys a 4-3 lead. Zach Matson and Scott Burke (S, 1) then shut down the Hillcats in the final three innings.

The Keys struck first after Sean Miller and Jarrett hit back-to-back singles to lead off the third inning. Miller was able to advance to third after Steven Kwan mishandled Jarrett's single to put runners at the corners. J.C. Escarra then flied a pitch to deep centerfield, scoring Miller to take a 1-0 lead. Ryan Ripken then singled, and Jarrett made it to third, where he scored on Trevor Craport's sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0.

The Hillcats answered in the fourth. Will Benson lead off the frame by powering a home run off the batter's eye in dead centerfield and after Jonathan Laureano singled, Mike Rivera hooked a towering flyball inside the left-field foul pole for his second home run of the season which gave Lynchburg a 3-2 advantage.

In the fifth, the Keys struck back. Miller doubled to lead-off the inning, advanced to third on a fly-out and scored on an RBI single from Ripken to tie the game 3-3.

Brenan Hanifee (5-7) faced eight hitters in the fourth but was lights out after that. He retired the final six hitters he faced to complete six innings, allowing just three runs on two walks and seven hits with five strikeouts in his fifth win of the season.

Matson allowed three walks in the first Carolina League outing on the year, but he also struck out three and did not allow a hit in two frames. Burke polished off the ninth, striking out Nolan Jones on a 3-2 pitch to end it.

Jonathan Teaney (3-1) took the loss after allowing three hits and the go-ahead run in two innings of relief. Hillcats' starter Justin Garza lasted six innings and was charged with three runs on six hits.

The Keys return home for a seven-game homestand starting with a four-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday, June 27. Things kick off with Pride Night on Thursday while the Keys celebrate Keyote's birthday on Friday with a Trey Mancini t-shirt giveaway to the first 1,000 fans through the gates. Saturday, June 29 is Margaritaville Night with first pitch scheduled for 6:00pm.

The Frederick Keys are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play their home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Following the 2018 season, the Keys were named the winner of the Carolina League's Complete Franchise Award. This goes to a team in the league which demonstrates franchise stability and significant contributions to its community and the league. In 2019, the team will host the Carolina League All-Star Classic presented by Visit Frederick. For more information about the Frederick Keys please contact Geoff Arnold by phone at (301)-815-9915 or by emailing at GArnold@FrederickKeys.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 26, 2019


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