Frederick Keys Weekly Recap: Keys Open Second Half Strong, Pitching Staff Carries Week
Frederick Keys Weekly Recap: Keys Open Second Half Strong, Pitching Staff Carries Week
The Frederick Keys entered the week with momentum, a postseason berth already locked up and a chance to make a statement as the second half opened. Frederick had just clinched the South Atlantic League first-half division title on June 18, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2017.
The Keys then went 4-2 from June 19 through June 25, taking two of three from the Hub City Spartanburgers and opening the Wilmington series with back-to-back shutouts before falling in a wild 13-inning game Thursday night.
Frederick’s week showed exactly why the Orioles’ High-A affiliate has been one of the best stories in the system. The Keys got strong starts, dominant long relief, timely hitting from Braylin Tavera, Ike Irish, Colin Tuft and Colin Yeaman, and major production from a pitching staff that threw 18 straight shutout innings to open the Wilmington series.
Weekly results
June 19: Keys 3, Hub City 2
June 20: Hub City 13, Keys 8, 10 innings
June 21: Keys 8, Hub City 5
June 22: Off day
June 23: Keys 5, Wilmington 0
June 24: Keys 2, Wilmington 0
June 25: Wilmington 9, Keys 8, 13 innings
Frederick is back in affiliated baseball this season as the Orioles’ High-A affiliate after the club relocated that affiliate to Frederick for 2026.
Friday, June 19: Keys 3, Hub City 2
Frederick opened the second half with a tight 3-2 win over Hub City at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. The story was Yeiber Cartaya, who gave the Keys a season-high six scoreless innings. Cartaya allowed only three hits and struck out six, giving Frederick the exact kind of start needed after clinching the first-half crown one night earlier.
The offense did just enough. Elis Cuevas singled, stole second and scored on a throwing error in the fifth. Colin Yeaman then singled before Yasmil Bucce hit his first home run of the season, giving Frederick the three-run cushion that decided the game.
Hub City rallied for two runs in the seventh against Richard Guasch, but Riley Cooper helped close the door in the ninth after the Spartanburgers put two runners on base. Frederick held on and opened the second half 1-0.
Saturday, June 20: Hub City 13, Keys 8, 10 innings
Saturday was the one that got away. Frederick lost 13-8 in 10 innings after Hub City’s late rally snapped the Keys’ four-game winning streak. Boston Bateman, the reigning Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Month, started for Frederick, but the game turned into a bullpen-and-extra-innings battle.
The loss stung because Frederick had enough offense to win most nights. Eight runs usually gets the job done, especially at home, but Hub City kept pushing and broke the game open in extras. The Spartanburgers’ late offense changed the feel of the series and forced Frederick to respond Sunday.
For the Keys, the bigger takeaway was not panic. Good teams lose games like this during a long minor league season. The response matters more than the collapse, and Frederick answered one day later.
Sunday, June 21: Keys 8, Hub City 5
Frederick bounced back with an 8-5 win over Hub City to finish the seven-game set with a 5-2 series record. The Keys scored eight unanswered runs to take control and closed the weekend with a 2-1 record to begin the second half.
This was a strong team win because Frederick had to fight back. After Saturday’s extra-inning loss, the Keys needed a cleaner, steadier game. The offense answered with traffic, pressure and run-scoring chances throughout the middle innings.
The win also showed the depth of the lineup. Frederick has several hitters who can change games in different ways. Tavera brings athleticism and run production. Irish gives the lineup a polished bat. Tuft has been active on the bases. Yeaman has supplied timely contact. Honeycutt remains one of the most explosive athletes in the system.
Monday, June 22: Off day
The off day came at the right time. Frederick had just finished a long home series with Hub City and was preparing for a road series in Wilmington. That mattered because the Keys’ pitching staff came out of the break looking fresh.
Tuesday, June 23: Keys 5, Wilmington 0
Frederick opened the Wilmington series with one of its best pitching performances of the season, beating the Blue Rocks 5-0 while allowing only one hit. Kiefer Lord started and threw 2.2 hitless, scoreless innings with one walk and three strikeouts. Jacob Cravey followed with 1.1 scoreless innings, and Carson Dorsey finished the game with five dominant innings.
Dorsey was the star. The left-hander struck out six and finished the shutout by striking out the final two batters. That kind of long relief outing is huge in a six-game series because it protects the rest of the bullpen and gives the manager options for the next two nights.
Braylin Tavera carried the offense. Tavera drove in Wehiwa Aloy and Colin Tuft in the fourth inning to give Frederick a 2-0 lead. Tavera then added a two-run single in the ninth, finishing with two hits and four RBIs.
Colin Yeaman added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Tuft stole his 12th base of the season before scoring in the ninth. The Keys did not need a huge offensive night because the pitching staff completely controlled Wilmington.
Wednesday, June 24: Keys 2, Wilmington 0
Frederick made it back-to-back shutouts with a 2-0 win over Wilmington. The Keys scored both runs in the first inning and let the pitching staff do the rest. RJ Austin led off with a walk, Ike Irish doubled him home, and Victor Figueroa drove in Irish with a sacrifice fly.
Caden Hunter started and gave Frederick a scoreless outing. Richard Guasch followed with a scoreless sixth, and Riley Cooper handled the final three innings. Cooper allowed only two hits, struck out five and earned his second save of the season.
That performance was one of the best signs of the week. Cooper did not just survive the final three innings. Cooper finished the game with authority, striking out Angel Feliz with the tying run at the plate after Wilmington put a runner in scoring position in the ninth.
The Keys did not pile up runs, but they executed early and defended a small lead. That is playoff-style baseball.
Thursday, June 25: Wilmington 9, Keys 8, 13 innings
Thursday’s game was wild and painful. Frederick led 5-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, but Wilmington scored five runs to force extras and eventually walked off the Keys 9-8 in 13 innings.
JT Quinn gave Frederick six scoreless innings and put the Keys in position to win. The offense built the lead with an RBI single from Wehiwa Aloy, a Wilmington error on a hard-hit ball by Tavera, an RBI fielder’s choice by Yeaman, an RBI single by Figueroa and an RBI single from Tuft.
The collapse came late. Wilmington tied the game with five runs in the ninth, and the teams traded runs in the 10th, 11th and 12th. Yeaman gave Frederick a 6-5 lead in the 10th with an RBI single. Irish scored on a wild pitch in the 11th. Tavera scored on another wild pitch in the 12th. Wilmington answered each time.
The Blue Rocks finally won in the 13th on an error from a throw in right field. It was a frustrating ending because Frederick played winning baseball for eight innings, but the bullpen and defense could not finish the final outs.
Transactions and roster notes
The biggest Frederick-related transaction of the week came June 21, when Chesapeake sent right-hander Tyson Neighbors to Frederick on a rehab assignment. Neighbors is listed on the Keys roster as a rehab assignment player.
The Keys also placed shortstop Elis Cuevas on the seven-day injured list on June 23. Cuevas had been part of Friday’s win, singling, stealing second and scoring Frederick’s first run against Hub City.
Richard Guasch remained with Frederick on a rehab assignment from Norfolk and appeared during the week, including a scoreless inning June 24 against Wilmington.
Players of the week
Braylin Tavera was the top position player of the week. Tavera drove in four runs June 23, helped create early offense June 25 and continued to show why his athletic profile matters in this lineup.
Carson Dorsey had the best pitching performance. Five scoreless innings with six strikeouts to finish a one-hit shutout is a major statement.
Riley Cooper also deserves credit. Cooper threw three scoreless innings June 24, struck out five and earned the save.
Yeiber Cartaya set the tone Friday with six scoreless innings against Hub City.
JT Quinn deserved a win Thursday after six scoreless innings, even though the bullpen could not protect the lead.
Final takeaway
The Keys went 4-2 during the week, but the record does not fully show how strong the pitching was. Frederick got scoreless starts or bulk outings from Cartaya, Lord, Hunter and Quinn, plus dominant relief from Dorsey and Cooper.
The only concern is finishing games. Saturday’s extra-inning loss and Thursday’s 13-inning collapse both showed how quickly late innings can flip. Still, this was a strong week for a Frederick team that already punched its postseason ticket and continues to look like one of the Orioles’ most exciting minor league clubs.
