Big Second Helps Keys Earn Series Split

FREDERICK, Md. -The Frederick Keys equaled their largest inning of the season in the second, as the club secured an 8-4 win over the Carolina Mudcats on Tuesday afternoon at Nymeo Field. With the win the Keys post a series split. Conor Bierfeldt led the offense, finishing with a season-high four RBIs.

 

Facing Max Povse, the Keys scored the first seven runs of the game. Jay Gonzalez reached on an error by Erison Mendez to open the home first, while back-to-back singles by Steve Wilkerson and Wynston Sawyer got the Keys on the board. Bierfeldt brought in the second run on a sacrifice fly.

 

The Keys outfielder would provide the big blow in a five-run second. Josh Hart doubled, while a single by Erick Salcedo and a throwing error on a pickoff by Povse (3-4) stretched Frederick's lead to 3-0. Wilkerson then singled in Salcedo, before Sawyer and Gonzalez executed a successful double steal. That sent up Bierfeldt who smacked his fourth home run of the year to left-center. His four RBIs were the most he had ever turned in during a Carolina League game.

 

Carolina got on the scoreboard in the third against Lucas Long. With Mendez at first, Joseph Odom clubbed an RBI double and scored on a base knock by Braxton Davidson. One stanza later, Joseph Daris hit a solo homer to right. Long (3-4) exited after five and earned the win, giving up three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out a pair.

 

Povse completed six innings giving up eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits in a losing effort. He walked one and struck out three. The eight runs and 11 hits were both career-worsts for the right-hander.  

 

Jonah Heim doubled and scored on an error by Mendez in the fifth, while the Mudcats got a solo homer by Tanner Murphy to complete their scoring in the sixth. In the game, all nine members of the Frederick starting lineup tallied a hit, while Wilkerson turned in a 3-for-4 contest with two runs scored. The three hits equaled a season-high.

 

The Keys have an off-day on Wednesday before beginning a four-game series with the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium on Thursday. Neither side has announced its starting pitcher. The Keys return home on Thursday, June 16 when the Lynchburg Hillcats come to town for a 7:00 first pitch. For tickets, fans can call the box office at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.