For the third time in his last four starts, Frederick RHP Jake Arrieta pitched superbly and has nothing to show for it. The Keys dropped the opener of a three-game set against the Kinston Indians tonight at Harry Grove Stadium 3-1.
Kinston struck first. LF Nick Weglarz led off the top of the second with a walk. He advanced to second on a ground ball out. With two men down, Cirilo Cumberbatch hit a flyball to left center field. Keys LF Chris Amador and CF Danny Figueroa converged on the ball, almost running into each other, and the ball dropped in. Figueroa was charged with an error on the play. Weglarz came around to score, and the Indians took a 1-0 lead.

The Keys would answer in the bottom half of the inning. C Matt Wieters led things off with a single. DH Chris Vinyard followed with a single of his own. One batter later, 3B Billy Rowell drove Wieters in on a base hit up the middle, to tie the game at 1.

That's where things stood until the top of the ninth. LHP Wilfrido Perez, who had already pitched two innings, allowed a single to Jared Goedert, followed by a double to Weglarz. RHP J.P. Martinez came in to relieve Perez. The next batter, SS Carlos Rivero singled in Goedert and gave the Indians a 2-1 lead.

Martinez then intentionally walked CF Jason Denham to load the bases. Martinez then unintentionally walked RF Cirilo Cumberbatch, knocking in a run and extending Kinston's lead to 3-1.

The Keys tried to mount a come back in the ninth off Indians closer Luis Perdomo, but it came up short.

Tonight's two starters, Arrieta and Kinston's Carlton Smith, both pitched very well, but neither factored into the decision, Arrueta pitched six innings, and allowed one unearned run on just one hit. He walked two and struck out five (including the last four batters he faced). Smith pitched deeper into the game, going 7.1 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Kinston RHP Josh Tomlin got the win and improves to 4-1. Perez was credited with the loss, dropping to 0-2. Perdomo picked up his sixth save of the season.

The two clubs clash again tomorrow evening at Harry Grove Stadium, in game two of the series. It's Guaranteed Win Night at the stadium. If the Keys lose, tickets to the game can be redeemed for a free General Admission ticket to any Monday through Thursday Keys game. First pitch is schedule for 7:00. For more information, contact our box office at 1-877-8-GO-KEYS.