Frederick Keys Weekly Recap 7/5-7/16
The Frederick Keys start the week off with a 38-46 record, 6 games below .500, with a big week there is definitely enough time to get back into contention for the division. Here is a recap from each of the games this week:
Game 1: 7/5/18: Keys 2 Mudcats 8
Lucas Humpal, getting the start, was not very effective, lasting 5.1 innings, and allowing 6 earned runs, this put the Keys out of the game pretty much to end up losing the game 8-2. The only offense came from a 2-RBI single from Jake Ring.
Game 2: 7/6/18: Keys 3 Mudcats 4
Zac Lowther was solid striking out 7 and only allowing 1 run, however he only lasted 4 innings, but regardless 7 strikeouts in 4 innings, is great. Steven Klimek was unfortunately charged with the loss, allowing 3 runs in 3 innings of work. Tyler Erwin finished up pitching a scoreless inning. The Keys scored all their runs in the 2nd inning, the runs coming from Collin Woody’s 2-Run homer and Cole Billingsley’s single.
Game 3: 7/7/18: Keys 4 Mudcats 1
Christian Alvarado was marvelous, going 7 innings, allowing 1 run, and striking out 5. The 23 year old right hander, Alvarado is really beginning to master the Single-A Advanced level, a promotion is imminent most likely. Zach Burke and Tyler Erwin both threw scoreless innings in addition. Offensively, the main production came from Jake Ring’s 2-Run Homer, Daniel Fajardo singled in a run.
Game 4: 7/8/18: Keys 1 Mudcats 6
Alex Wells was not his best, going 4.1 innings and allowing 4 runs. Travis Seabrooke allowed 2 runs also. Randolph Gassaway drove in the only run, coming from a RBI double in the top of the ninth.
Game 5: 7/9/18: Blue Rocks 2 Keys 4
Matthias Dietz was way better in his second Carolina League start, he goes 5 innings, allowing 2 runs. Hopefully he can build on this start and get deeper into the ballgame as he adjusts more into this new level. Matt Trowbridge and Tyler Erwin combined for 4 scoreless innings, to keep the Keys in the game. Yojhan Quevedo led the way with 2 hits and 2 RBIs, the rest of the runs coming from Alejandro Juvier and Randolph Gassaway RBI doubles.
Game 6: 7/10/18: Blue Rocks 8 Keys 3
Chris Tillman makes a rehab appearance in Frederick but does not pitch well against the minor leaguers like he should. The Orioles 30 year old former ace goes a solid 6.1 innings but allows 6 runs (4 earned) Steven Klimek throws a scoreless outing but Elvis Araujo allows 2 runs. The only time the Keys offense got anything going was Alejandro Juvier’s 3-run jack in the bottom of the 4th inning, other than that the Keys offense was almost silent.
Game 7: 7/11/18: Blue Rocks 12 Keys 11 Final/12
Tough extra inning loss for the Keys. Zac Lowther kicks things off going 5 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, but striking out 8 which is solid. Several pitchers came into pitch in this one but in extras Tyler Erwin threw 1.1 innings, allowing 5 runs but none of them earned which is highly unusual. Isaac Silva was charged with the loss but the only run that came into score off him was unearned. There were 2 errors on the Keys side the whole game and a couple bunts that killed the Keys.
Game 8: 7/12/18: Blue Rocks 3 Keys 2
Christian Alvarado earned the quality start but he was better than just a quality start. Alvarado went 7.1 innings and allowing 3 earned runs. Unfortunately he was charged with the loss after his great outing due to the lack of offense. Matt Trowbridge threw a scoreless 1.2 innings also. Jake Ring singled and Wilson Garcia homered for his 17th of the season.
Game 9: 7/13/18: Keys 5 Nationals 4
Michael Baumann was decent at best, going 4.2 innings, allowing 2 runs, and striking out 3, but what really killed him was his 5 walks, walks always kill. Steven Klimek allowed another two runs but Araujo threw a scoreless 1.2 innings to get the win. Wilson Garcia homered again for his 18th and Jake Ring singled in a run. Jomar Reyes grounded into a RBI double play and Randolph Gassaway hit a 2 run sacrifice fly out, one of the runs coming from an error on the play.
Game 10: 7/14/18: Keys 5 Nationals 9
Matthias Dietz got the start but was not as effective. Dietz went just two innings, allowing 2 runs. I guess the Keys just saw something they didn’t like and didn’t want to overwork him, he was at 52 pitches already. Travis Seabrooke allowed 7 runs in 4 innings to put the game out of reach, Isaac Silva threw 2 scoreless innings. TJ Nichting hit his 1st homer for Frederick driving in Chris Clare, Jomar Reyes doubled in a run, Palmeira drove in a run via the sacrifice fly, and Palmeiro also singled to score one.
Game 11: 7/15/18: Keys 5 Nationals 4
The Keys face off against rehabbing former number one overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, he goes 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs (0 earned) but he struck out 7. In Frederick’s side Lucas Humpal went 5 innings allowing 2. The rest of the bullpen was solid obviously getting the job done. Cole Billingsley was the main contributor of the day, homering off of Stephen Stasburg, he finished with 3 hits. Jake Ring finished with 2.
Game 12: 7/16/18: Keys 7 Nationals 10
Zac Lowther struggled a little bit for really the first time in a while, he went just 3 innings, allowing 5 runs. Zach Burke was charged with the loss though after allowing 5 runs in 3 innings also, Steven Klimek threw a scoreless 2. TJ Nichting was the headliner after putting 2 hits on the board with 3 RBIs. Quevedo and Juvier also had multiple hits.
So the Keys finish worse than they started, now 11 games below .500, hopefully more consistent offense and pitching work together that changes.