Keys Strike Early, Hold Off Tourists 6-3 in Series Opener

FREDERICK, Md. — A four-run first inning was all Frederick needed. Everything after that was a pitchers duel that Asheville couldn't quite win.

The Frederick Keys beat the Tourists 6-3 Tuesday night in the opener of the final road series of the season, getting all the damage they needed in the first inning before both bullpens largely shut things down the rest of the way.

Asheville struck first. Jack Moss hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the first to score Kyle Walker and give the Tourists a 1-0 lead before Frederick answered with four straight runs to flip the game.

Nick Potter took the ball for Asheville and threw 56 pitches, his most as a Tourist, across three innings. The first inning was the only real blemish on what has otherwise been an encouraging stretch for the Astros' 22nd-ranked prospect. Jaiden Lo Re launched a three-run home run to left-center to put Frederick ahead 3-1, and Braylon Whitaker followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1. Potter settled in after that, striking out five and keeping the Tourists within reach before handing it to the bullpen.

Yeriel Santos was tremendous in relief, going five innings, allowing just two runs and striking out six to keep Asheville in the conversation long after the game looked out of reach. It was exactly the kind of outing the Tourists needed from their bullpen depth.

The Tourists pulled one back in the fifth when John Garcia stole third and scored on a throwing error from catcher Ryan Stafford. 4-2. But Frederick answered immediately with a Lo Re sacrifice fly and a Leandro Arias RBI double to push it back to 6-2.

Walker was Asheville's best offensive player on the night. He went 1-for-2 with two walks, scored two of the team's three runs, and launched his fifth home run of the season to left field in the eighth to make it 6-3. The Tourists managed just five hits and struck out seventeen times against a Frederick pitching staff that was sharp all night.

DJ Newman went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, ending his 18-game hitting streak that had been the second longest active streak in all of baseball.

Asheville and Frederick meet again Wednesday night. Javier Perez takes the ball for the Tourists against Frederick's Evan Yates. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.