Hartson Locks Down Keys

FREDERICK, MD -Brock Hartson delivered seven shutout innings of two-hit baseball to lead the Lynchburg Hillcats to a 5-0 win over the Frederick Keys on Friday night at Nymeo Field. It was the Keys fifth straight loss to the Hillcats and the club's 11^th in 13 games. Pitching on a Major League rehab assignment, Orioles closer Zach Britton tossed one scoreless inning.
Coming off six frames of one-run baseball last Sunday in Lynchburg, Hartson (4-3) earned his second straight victory over the Keys. Surrendering only two hits, the right-hander walked three and struck out six. Hartson has made four consecutive starts against the Keys and has put together a quality outing in each game. 

Ofelky Peralta was hit with the third loss, surrendering four runs on five hits in three innings. The right-hander walked five and struck out three while throwing 85 pitches (45 strikes).
Lynchburg scored three times off Peralta (1-7) in the second. Martin Cervenka walked to open the inning, while Daniel Salters followed with a single. That sent up Jodd Carter who hit a two-run triple to right-center. Later in the inning, Yonathan Mendoza added a three-bagger to make it a 3-0 game.
The visitors added insurance markers in the third and eighth innings. In the third, Sicnarf Loopstok scored on consecutive fielder's choices, while a walk, a wild pitch and a base hit by Claudio Bautista brought home Carter in the eighth.
Britton worked the ninth inning and retired all three batters he faced on 11 pitches (seven strikes). This included a strikeout of Martin Cervenka to end Britton's night. A former Carolina League Pitcher of the Year, it marked Britton's first appearance in a Keys uniform since 2009.
With the setback on Friday, the Keys have been shutout eight times in 2017, tied for second-most in the Carolina League. Meanwhile the two hits the Keys registered in the game tied a season-low.
The Keys and Hillcats play game two of four in their series on Saturday as the Keys faceoff against Hillcats right-hander Shao-Ching Chiang (7-5, 3.72). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., and the game can be heard on MAX Country 93.5/100.5 FM, frederickkeys.com, and the TuneIn Radio App.
Saturday is Caddyshack Night and will include an appearance by Michael O'Keefe (aka Danny Noonan) as well as postgame fireworks presented by Maryland EXCELS. For ticket information, fans can call the Keys at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.