CarL1 Frederick Keys

Matusz Strikes Out Nine In Keys Win

Published on May 20, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Despite being dominant at times, Frederick Keys LHP Brian Matusz hadn't picked up a win in the month of May. That all changed tonight, as Matusz struck out nine over seven solid innings to help Frederick defeat the Lynchburg Hillcats 9-5.

The Keys got Matusz some early run support. With one down in the second, CF Kraig Binick reached on a single. RF Billy Rowell then struck a single to center. The ball got under Lynchburg CF Alex Presley's glove and rolled all the way to the wall. Binick was able to score from first, and Rowell reached third on the error. C Caleb Joseph knocked in Rowell with a ground out to third, giving Frederick a 2-0 lead.

SS Pedro Florimon then stepped up and drilled a solo homerun to left, his fifth of the season, extending the lead to three.

Matusz set down the first six batters he faced in order, but was knicked up in the third. LF Jared Keel reached on an infield hit. DH Ray Chang then hit a groundrule double to left, putting runners on second and third with nobody down. Matusz threw a wild pitch, allowing Keel to score and Chang to move up to third. 2B Jose De Los Santos then grounded out to short, scoring Chang, and making it a 3-2 ball game.

Lynchburg tied the game in the fourth. With two men down, RF Miles Durham hit a solo homerun to left-center field.

That's all the runs Lynchburg would get against Matusz. The southpaw went seven innings and allowed just the three runs on four hits. He walked just one and struck out nine.

The Keys made sure he would leave with the lead. In the sixth inning, with one man down, 3B Tyler Henson walked. 1B Brandon Waring hit a double to put runners on second and third. A batter later, RF Billy Rowell hit a ground ball towards short. SS Jordy Mercer threw wildly to first, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Frederick led 4-3.

The Keys manufactured another run in the seventh. Florimon led off the inning with an infield hit. 2B Rodolfo Caredona sacraficed him to second. He advanced to third on a ground ball out to first base. DH Bobby Stevens then hit an infield single, to knock in Florimon, andmake it a 5-3 game.

LHP Jake Stevens came in to relieve Matusz in the eighth. He struggled. Chang led off the inning with a walk. Presley then singled. De Los Santos moved them over with a sac bunt. The Keys opted to go back to the bullpen and bring in their closer, RHP Luis Lebron. He got Mercer to ground into a fielder's choice, scoring a run and making it 5-4. He then struck out top prospect 3B Pedro Alvarez to end the inning.

Frederick broke the game open in the eighth. Waring led off the frame with a solo homerun. Later in the inning, with two on and one down, Florimon drilled a base-clearing triple. He later scored on a Cardona sac fly to make it a 9-4 Frederick lead.

Florimon finished the game a double shy of the cycle. He went 3-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Lynchburg tacked on a run in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough. Matusz picked up the win, improving to 3-2. LHP Chi-Hung Cheng took the loss for Lynchburg. He's now 3-2. Lebron picked up his sixth save of the season.

The Keys will try to salvage a split of this four-game series tomorrow evening at Harry Grove Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00. For ticket info, contact our box office at 1-877-8-GO-KEYS.

Check out the Frederick Keys Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 20, 2009


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