Bridwell Flirts with No-No Again, Keys Top Nats

WOODBRIDGE, VA -For the second time this season, Parker Bridwell flirted with a no-hitter against Potomac, before the same individual broke it up. Having faced the minimum through six innings, Bridwell surrendered a one-out single to Tony Renda, to end things. Still, the right-hander did not allow any runs over eight innings to lead the Keys to a 6-0 shutout win on Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium. The victory improves the Keys to 28-33 in the second-half and moves the team within a game and a half of Wilmington and Lynchburg in the wildcard race, after both teams lost on Monday night.

 Bridwell (6-10) came within one out of his career-high for innings pitched, surrendering just one hit over eight innings. He also came within one strikeout of his career-high, punching out 13. It was the most he had tallied since last August 13, when he struck out 14 as a member of the Delmarva Shorebirds. Additionally, it was the most strikeouts by a Keys pitcher in 2014, surpassing the 11 by Branden Kline on June 7 at Myrtle Beach.

Brady Wager wrapped things up on the mound, tossing a scoreless ninth despite loading the bases. It was the ninth Frederick shutout of the season, tied for the third-most in the league, while the victory clinched a winning regular season road record for the orange and black. This season, the Keys went 36-34 in games away from the friendly confines.

Offensively, Frederick was limited to just two hits over its first three innings, before breaking out in the fourth against Brian Rauh. Trey Mancini led off the inning with a single, before moving to second on a passed ball. Chih-Hsien Chiang then coaxed a walk, before Brenden Webb singled to center to plate the game's first run. Wynston Sawyer added an RBI single of his own, and a two-run single bagger by Joel Hutter completed the scoring.

Ahead 4-0, the Keys added insurance against Rauh (2-3) in the sixth. With a runner on base and two outs, Sawyer singled to left to move Webb to second, while Hutter walked to load the bases for Jerome Pena. With a 1-1 count, the former TCU Horned Frog lined a single to center to score a pair and end Rauh's night.  

Over 5.2 frames, Rauh allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits. He walked two and struck out one. It was his second straight defeat.

Sawyer tied his season-high with three hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Pena (2-for-4) and Webb (2-for-4) also finished with multi-hit efforts, while Chiang extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the seventh.

Frederick begins a five-game series with the Salem Red Sox on Tuesday night at Harry Grove Stadium. Matt Taylor (5-2, 3.09) makes the start for the Keys and will be countered by Sox righty Simon Mercedes (4-9, 4.81). First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source. For tickets, fans can call 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.