Frederick Can’t Hold Lead; Lose to Nationals 6-4

Written by: Andrew Vigliotti (@Andrew_Vig)

Frederick, MD

The Frederick Keys held a 4-1 advantage entering the fifth inning, but couldn’t hold onto the win as they lost to the Potomac Nationals 6-4 in 10 innings.

“It was one of those things where it was a pretty good game and we had our chances to score some runs,” Keys Manager Orlando Gomez said. “We had our chances and we couldn’t execute.”

The game was tied in the bottom of the ninth as Ty Kelly singled to give the Keys a chance. Ronnie Welty, who had four hits in the game, was hit by a pitch to set up runners on first and second with nobody out.  Aaron Baker grounded into a double play, which advanced the runner to third with two outs for Mike Flacco.  The first baseman struck out to end the frame and the threat.

In the 10th inning, Shortstop Blake Kelso singled to begin the inning. After a ground ball to the pitcher advanced Kelso to second, Kevin Keyes was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Right fielder Randolph Oduber singled to right field to bring in two runs.

The Keys were unable to rally and lost by that same score.

“It’s a tough one to lose,” Welty said.  “We had our chances a couple times to push a run across, but it just didn’t happen for us.”

Welty, who came into Monday’s game hitting .314, increased his batting average by 71 points.

“I’m still doing the same thing at the plate,” he said. “I’m just getting a good pitch to hit and putting a good swing on it. I’m not trying to do too much and it’s working out really well.”

The Keys right fielder also added that his confidence doesn’t waiver no matter how he plays and that it has to be that way in order to have continued success.

Trent Mummey, who came into Monday with an 0-16 skid, singled in the second inning on a two-strike changeup and drove in two runs for the Keys in the loss.  The center-fielder says the adjustments he is making is what is helping him trying to get out of the slump.

“I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate,” he said. “I’ve been working on my timing.  It’s been one of my more productive days at the plate, you know seeing the ball and hitting the ball hard everywhere and just not having them drop.”

The loss puts the Keys at the .500 mark through the first ten games of the season.  The team was hoping for a better result to start the campaign coming off winning the Mills Cup title in 2011, but there is no panic, especially after they just recently defeated Wilmington two out of three in their first road series of the year.

“Everyone is trying to find their little niche to try and help the team win,” Welty said. “It’s still early in the season we aren’t freaking out about anything we just have to play a little bit better.”

Frederick continues their series against the Potomac Nationals Tuesday night at 7:05 as Kyle Simon toes the rubber in his third professional start.