LJ HOES LIFTS FREDERICK TO VICTORY

Similar to the series opener on Monday night, the Wilmington Blue Rocks were the first to score on Tuesday but this time when the Keys took the lead they were able to hold onto it. Frederick scored three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh as they defeated the Blue Rocks, 5-3. With the victory, the Keys improved to 25-26 in the second half of the year and 66-55 overall in 2010.

LHP Nathan Moreau started for Frederick on Tuesday evening. Moreau retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one-out single to 2B Rey Navarro. Moreau gave up another hit in the third but left the inning unscathed after SS Christian Colon flew out to rightfield to end the inning.

Frederick had a big opportunity to score the game's first run in the second but LHP Buddy Baumann got the best of the Keys. With one down in the bottom of the second, Frederick loaded the bases following a Brian Conley walk. Baumann was not fazed. He struck out C Brian Ward and CF Kyle Hudson to get out of the jam. Baumann finished up his night tying a career-high with seven strikeouts.

With the game scoreless after three innings, Wilmington put two runs on the board on one swing of the bat. Following a Wil Myers walk, 1B Ernesto Mejia hit a two-run shot to left-center to give the Rocks a 2-0 lead. Moreau did not allow another run to score as he finished up his outing allowing two runs on four hits over 5.1 innings. Tuesday night was Moreau's longest outing since he tossed a complete game no-hitter on June 30 against Salem.

The Keys bats came to life once LHP Buddy Baumann left the game. In the top of the fifth inning RHP Jairo Cuevas came into to relieve Baumann. After a one-out single by SS Bobby Stevens, RF Ronnie Welty hit a RBI double to centerfield. Following a Billy Rowell groundout, 2B LJ Hoes stepped to the plate. Hoes, who extended his hit streak to 12 games with a single in the second inning, demolished a Cuevas pitch for a two-run homerun. The blast by Hoes gave Frederick a lead they would not relinquish.

Baltimore Orioles rehabber, RHP Jim Johnson, tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth inning out of the Frederick bullpen in his second and final rehab outing with the Keys.

Frederick added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh including a RBI double by LJ Hoes. Hoes finished up the night 3-for-4 with three RBI.

The Blue Rocks did not go down without a fight though in the game's final inning. DH Joey Lewis led off the inning with solo homer off Josh Dowdy. Wilmington ended up loading the bases with two out as 1B Ernesto Mejia came to the dish. Dowdy struck out the big first baseman as he notched his third save of the year with Frederick. The Dowdy save also ensured Moreau's first win since July 11 as he improved to 4-3 on the year with the Keys.

Wilmington and Frederick will play game three on Wednesday night. RHP Oliver Drake (3-6, 4.84) will start for the Keys while 2009 first-round pick, RHP Aaron Crow (1-1, 5.40), will toe the rubber for the Blue Rocks. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. for Belly Buster Wednesday at Harry Grove Stadium. Enjoy an All-You-Can-Eat picnic for just $21 ($18 for children) in the picnic pavilion down the rightfield line.

For tickets call 1-877-8-GO-KEYS or purchase online at www.frederickkeys.com.