Playoff-Bound Keys Earn Doubleheader Sweep

FREDERICK, MD-The Frederick Keys (68-70/37-32) completed a doubleheader sweep of the Potomac Nationals (62-77/29-40) on Sunday evening at Nymeo Field. The Keys won game one 10-4 before earning a 2-0 shutout in game two.
Prior to the start of game one, Frederick clinched the north wild card after Winston-Salem defeated Salem 2-0 in game one of their doubleheader. With the Keys magic number one entering the day, they needed a win or a Salem loss to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011.

The Keys jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in game one, as they sent all nine men to bat. Chris Clare led off with a walk, and Brallan Perez followed with a single. After an Ademar Rifaela strikeout, Glynn Davis hit an RBI double to get the scoring started. Armando Araiza then hit a two-run double, and was brought home on a Jomar Reyes RBI single. The scoring was capped off by a Randolph Gassaway solo home run to make it 5-0.
Frederick would continue to score in the second, sending eight more men to the plate. Perez hit a triple, and Rifaela was hit by a pitch. Davis then walked to load the bases for Araiza. The Keys catcher collected his third RBI of the game with a single, and Gassaway followed with a two-run double to push the lead to 8-0.
In the third, Potomac cut the lead in half. Jack Sundberg doubled and Ian Sagdal walked. David Masters then hit an RBI single, and three runs were plated on a Jakson Reetz home run, making it 8-4 Keys.
The score would stay that way until the fifth. With two outs, Shane Hoelscher reached on an error to bring up Jake Ring . Ring then launched a two-run home run to right field for his first Carolina League hit, and making the score 10-4.
Reid Love (6-4) picked up the win. The left-hander tossed five innings and allowed four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two. Taylor Guilbeau (4-5) took the loss, surrendering eight runs in just 1.1 innings. He gave up seven hits while walking two and striking out one.
In game two, the scoring was reduced but the outcome remained the same for the Keys. In the second inning, Davis led off with a single. Araiza then hit a single of his own, and Davis scored on a Reyes single. After Ring walked to load the bases, Stuart Levy brought in a run on a groundout to move the lead to 2-0.
That was all the scoring in the game, as the trio of Matthew Grimes , Luis Gonzalez , and Mike Burke combined to shut out the Nationals. Earning the victory, Grimes (1-2) allowed five hits over five innings while walking four. Gonzalez and Burke each pitched perfect frames while striking out a batter. Burke earned his third save. Austen Williams (2-5) took the loss, allowing two runs over five innings.
The final game of the regular season will be played on Monday afternoon. Ofelky Peralta (2-10, 5.58) makes the start for the Keys against right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (3-3, 3.18). It is a 2:00 p.m. start with gates opening at 1:00, and it is also fan appreciation day. Those who attend will have a chance to win great prizes, including a Chris Davis signed hat and jersey. The game can be heard on 1450 AM The Source, frederickkeys.com, and the TuneIn Radio App.
Frederick will host the first two games of the playoffs on Wednesday and Thursday against Lynchburg. Each game will begin at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, fans can call 301-815-9939, visit the box office at Nymeo Field, or buy online at frederickkeys.com.