Turnaround Pitching, Ample Offense Leads Keys Past Hillcats

Lynchburg, Va.-After Lynchburg batted around and scored five first-inning runs, the trio of David Hess, Austin Urban and Cody Wheeler combined on eight shutout innings of one-hit baseball to lead the Keys to a 6-5 win on Tuesday night at City Stadium. In a first inning that featured three Hillcats home runs, the Keys bats also responded, pounding out 12 hits, while Tucker Nathans and Jeff Kemp each recorded three knocks apiece. With the win, the orange and black improve to 9-8 in one-run games and 17-1 when scoring four runs or more.

The Keys offense started quickly against Dace Kime, who was making his Carolina League debut. Tucker Nathans singled to open up the game and advanced to third on the first of three doubles by Kemp. Drew Dosch followed with a fielder's choice to score Nathans, while an RBI single by Trey Mancini brought Kemp home.

Frederick's 2-0 lead would be short-lived, as Lynchburg batted around against Hess (2-2). After a leadoff walk to Luigi Rodriguez, the right-hander served up a two-run homer to Clint Frazier. A Bradley Zimmer single followed, before Paul Hendrix hit a fly ball to right which carried over the wall. Joe Sever completed the scoring with a longball to left-center.

Despite surrendering a career-high three home runs and tying his season-high with five runs allowed, Hess would turn the page quickly. Working four straight 1-2-3 innings, the Tennessee native retired the final 13 he faced. Over five innings, he scattered five hits, walked one and struck out six. It was his first win since April 10.

The Keys would score the final four runs of the game, plating three off Kime (0-1) in third. Tucker Nathans opened the inning with a solo home run to right, while a two-bagger by Kemp and an RBI double from Dosch followed. Three batters later, Adrian Marin would level the ballgame at five with an RBI single to left. In the frame, the Keys sent eight men to bat.

Frederick took the lead for good in the fourth thanks to a leadoff single by Nathans and another double by Kemp. Kime allowed 11 hits and six runs over 5.2 innings. He walked three and struck out four.

Following Hess, Urban pitched two clean innings, to set up Wheeler for the six-out save, which he executed for the fourth time in as many chances. Over the last two innings, the Virginian struck out two and allowed one hit.

In the game, six of the nine Keys starters recorded hits, while four finished with multi-hit efforts. Five different players also finished with an RBI.  

The Keys and Hillcats play the middle game of their series on Wednesday night. Lefty Luis Gonzalez (2-2, 5.93) makes the start for the Keys and will be opposed by right-hander Michael Peoples (1-3, 9.00). First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. from City Stadium and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and frederickkeys.com. The Keys return to Nymeo Field on May 15, when Potomac comes to town. For tickets, fans can call 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.