A seven-run third inning paired with mother nature helped the Frederick Keys (52-57, 17-23) to a 7-2 victory over the Potomac Nationals (55-49, 18-19) on Wednesday night. Frederick scored seven times against LHP Nick Raquet (L, 1-2) in the home half of the third inning, while the tarp went on the field after the top of the fifth inning. The teams got just enough outs for the game to be an official ballgame, as play never resumed once the tarp initially went on the playing surface.
Raquet got off to a good start for Potomac, as he retired the first six batters that he faced. With a scoreless game after 2.5 innings, the Keys sent 10 men to the plate in the third frame. A leadoff walk to 1B Collin Woody started the rally, while RF Jake Ring and C Daniel Fajardo followed with back-to-back doubles. Fajardo’s double plated two runs and made it 2-0 Frederick. SS Chris Clare followed with an RBI single, while Raquet then retired the next two hitters and was on the verge of limiting the damage to three runs. A two-out walk to LF Randolph Gassaway continued the inning, while 2B Preston Palmeiro then connected on a three-run home run, which made it 6-0 Frederick. 3B Jomar Reyes followed with a first pitch home run, as the Keys went back-to-back and knocked Raquet out of the game. The Potomac starter allowed seven runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. Frederick led 7-0 after three innings.
RHP Michael Baumann (W, 7-2) got credit for a complete game in the 4.5 inning victory. Baumann worked around a double and a walk in the second inning, which was sandwiched in between two perfect frames. The first two Potomac hitters then reached in the fourth inning against the Frederick starter, and CF Jack Sundberg got the P-Nats on the board with an RBI groundout, through Potomac left a runner at third base. In the fifth inning, 3B David Masters drew a one-out walk, while 2B Bryan Mejia followed with a single. SS Luis Garcia extended his hit streak to four games with an RBI single, but Baumann stranded two men on base in what ended up as the final frame of the night.
In the rain-shortened matchup, five different Potomac hitters picked up a hit, while RHP Carlos Acevedo worked 1.1 innings in relief of Raquet.
The teams are set to do battle on Thursday afternoon in the rubber match of the series. For Potomac, RHP Wil Crowe (10-0, 2.89) will look to pick up his league-leading 11th win of the season. Last time out, Crowe surrendered a season high four earned runs in a no-decision vs. the Carolina Mudcats. The Keys are set to counter with RHP Matthias Dietz (0-3, 7.85). Dietz is winless in his last seven starts between Class-A Delmarva and Frederick, and picked up the loss vs. Potomac on 7/14.
First pitch at Nymeo Field on Thursday is set for 12:00pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 11:45am with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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