Bats Held Quiet as Keys Winning Streak Comes to a Close

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -The Potomac Nationals scored the final three runs, while the Frederick Keys bats never got going in a 3-2 P-Nats win on Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium. With the loss, the Keys see their five-game winning streak come to a close.

Frederick grabbed the initial lead in the fourth against Nationals starter Luis Reyes. Wynston Sawyer opened the inning with a walk, while a single to Aderlin Rodriguez put men at first and second. A fielder's choice by Cam Kneeland took Sawyer off the basepaths, but Jomar Reyes followed with a double down the first baseline to make it 1-0 Keys. Later in the inning, Kneeland would score on an RBI bounce out by T.J. Olesczuk.

After retiring five straight between the second and third innings, Matthew Grimes hit a road bump in the fourth. The righty walked Dale Carey and Drew Ward to open the inning, while a bunt single by Bryan Mejia loaded the bases. One batter later, Alec Keller made it a 2-1 contest with a groundball to the right side.

Potomac added an unearned marker in the fifth to level the score. With two outs, Jose Marmolejos hit a sharp groundball up the middle. Erick Salcedo flagged it down, but the shortstop's throw was off target and went out of play. One batter later, Carey hit an RBI single to center.

Grimes (3-2) returned for the sixth and retired the first batter, but a triple by Keller and an RBI double by Matt Reistetter brought the right-hander's night to a close. Over 5.1 innings, Grimes allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Frederick's bats were held silent after a pair of fourth inning hits. Held to just five hits on the night, the Keys recorded only two hits in their last five at-bats and finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Mario Sanchez (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Nationals, giving up only one hits over three shutout innings. Ryan Brinley earned the save pitching a clean ninth.   

The Keys and Nationals conclude their series on Sunday. Right-hander Cory Jones (1-1, 3.94) gets the ball for the Keys and will be opposed by Nationals righty Phillips Valdez (3-1, 4.40 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m from Pfitzner Stadium and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and frederickkeys.com. Frederick returns home on Tuesday, May 10 when Wilmington comes to town. For tickets fans can call 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.