The Keys came close, but were unable to sweep their first series of the season as the Wilmington Blue Rocks defeated Frederick 4-3.
Wilmington struck first. With two men down in the top of the third, CF Derrick Robinson walked, stole second, and scored on a Chris McConnell double.
The Keys answered right back. In the bottom of the inning, SS Jason White reached on a walk. He got around to third, and C Matt Wieters hit a sac fly to drive him in, tying the ball game at one.

Frederick CF Danny Figueroa walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. LF Chris Amador laid down a sac bunt to advance Figueroa to second. The Miami-native then stole third base. The Blue Rocks decided to intentionally walk Wieters, then unintentionally walked the next batter, DH Chris Vinyard, to load the bases. 3B Bill Rowell hit a two-run single to left, to give Frederick a 3-1 lead.

That's when things went down hill for the Keys. With one man down in the top half of the sixth inning, Wilmington 2B Kurt Mertins drove a double to the wall in left. The next batter, RF Joe Dickerson, hit a fly ball down the line in left. Amador tried to make a running catch, but the ball hit the palm of his glove and bounced out. Amador thought it was foul, and didn't retrieve the ball quickly. It was ruled fair, and Dickerson came all the way around to score. The two-run inside the park homerun tied the ball game at three.

Keys starter Jake Renshaw walked the next batter, Anthony Serateli. Chad Thall came into the game to relieve Renshaw. Blue Rocks 1B David Wood singled, allowing Serateli to advance to third. Thall threw a wild pitch to the next batter, C Matt Marizio, allowing Serateli to score and giving the Blue Rocks a 4-3 lead.

It was a lead they would not relinquish. Wilmington relievers Gilbert de la Vera and Tyler Chambliss combined to throw four perfect innings, striking out six in the process, and closing the door shut on the Keys.

Renshaw got the loss. He drops to 2-2, after going 5.1 innings, and allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits, walking three and striking out two.

Blue Rocks right-hander Jason Godin picked up his first win of the season. He improves to 1-0. Chambliss received his third save of the season.

The Keys are off tomorrow, but will open up a three-game set against the first-place Potomac Nationals on Friday night at Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick is currently 2.5 games behind the P-Nats. First pitch is at 7 PM. There will be fireworks following the game. For ticket information, contact our box office at 1-877-8-GO-KEYS.