Alvarez Debuts But Keys Fall
Orioles recent signee Dariel Alvarez went 2-for-5 with an RBI in his Carolina League debut but it was not enough as the Keys dropped a fifth consecutive game by a 5-4 score at Potomac. The loss drops Frederick to three games out of the playoff race.
Alvarez hit the ball hard in each of his first three at-bats, singling solidly up the middle in his first Carolina League at-bat. He finished the night 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The Keys grabbed a fourth inning lead as C Zane Chavez doubled home a run to right-center field. Potomac seemed to always have an answer though as Nats C Adrian Nieto homered on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game.
In the fifth inning the Keys went back on top as Alvarez singled home a run with the bases loaded and one down. Frederick could not dent the scoreboard anymore in the inning however as starter Paul Demny danced out of the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
Potomac scored twice to gain the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Keys starter Zach Davies. Davies (7-6) allowed eight hits and three runs in the defeat.
Down 4-2 in the eighth inning the Keys looked like they may come all the way back. Three consecutive hits saw a run in with runners at first and second base with nobody out. Potomac got a force on the lead runner on a bunt and then fanned 1B Aaron Baker and 3B Jason Esposito to quell the threat.
Down 5-3 in the ninth inning Johnny Ruettiger hit his second home run of the year to bring the Keys with one run. It was the third home run of Ruettiger's career.
Frederick will try to end the losing streak Friday, August 16th with Zach Clark starting. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with coverage beginning 30-minutes prior with the Frederick Gorilla Pre-Game Show on 1450-AM The Source.
Saturday, August 17th the Keys come home for the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo Extravaganza at 6:00 p.m. against the Winston-Salem Dash. Get your tickets at 301-815-9939 or online at frederickkeys.com.