Keys come back twice but fall in 10 to Potomac

Christian Walker had four singles, including the game-tying RBI knock in the bottom of the ninth, but it still was not enough for the Frederick Keys to pull off the win against the Potomac Nationals at home. The P-Nats won 6-5 in ten innings in front of 2,499 at Harry Grove Stadium.  

The Nationals came out swinging, scoring four of their six runs in the first two innings off Keys starter Tyler Wilson. Led by two RBI singles and run-scoring error in the top of the first, the Nats were off to a quick lead. They would go on to score one more run in the bottom of the second off Wilson.

After giving up four runs, Wilson pitched five strong innings retiring 14 of the next 16 batters he faced. Wilson left the game after pitching seven. innings; he gave up six hits and struck out seven batters.

Delvi Cid's soft single over second basemen Adrian Sanchez's head in the sixth scored Johnny Ruettiger, putting the Keys within just one of the Nationals. Nicky Delmonico's long home run in the seventh inning tied the score at four.

In the eighth inning, Keys Manager Ryan Minor then turned to reliever Gene Escat, who gave up a first pitch homerun to Nationals' third baseman Cutter Dykstra to again put Potomac ahead.

Travis Adair, who pinch ran for Delmonico after he singled in the bottom of ninth, came around to score on Walker's single to center. Both Delmonico and Walker came up with two-out singles that took Tuesday's game to extra innings.

However, after a two hit batters and walk from Keys' pitchers Escat and David Walters in the 10th, Jason Martinson grounded into a bases loaded 6-4-3 double play and Randolph Oduber went on to score the go-ahead run.

Richie Mirowski sat down all three Keys batters in the bottom of the 10th with just nine pitches to put a close on game one of this three game series.  

Walker finished 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Delmonico went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

The Keys have two more games at home against the Nationals this week. Tim Berry (2-2, 3.50) is scheduled to start for the Keys against A.J. Cole (1-1, 4.50) tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium. For tickets, purchase online at FrederickKeys.com, by phone at 301-815-9939 or in person at the Keys' box office at Harry Grove Stadium.