Tourists Manage Just Four Hits in 4-2 Loss to Frederick

FREDERICK, Md. — Stephen Still had the Tourists' number Friday night. The Frederick starter struck out ten batters across 6.2 innings, holding Asheville to just four hits and keeping the Tourists off balance from the first pitch to the last. The Keys won 4-2 to take a 3-0 series lead, with Thursday's game postponed due to rain and pushed to a Sunday doubleheader.

The Tourists' only real offensive moment came in the third inning. Anthony Huezo launched a two-run home run to right field to tie the game at two, his second home run in as many games and his 21st of the season. Huezo, Kenni Gomez, Yosweld Vasquez, and DJ Newman were the only Tourists to record hits, with Huezo's being the only one that mattered on the scoreboard. Asheville struck out 13 times.

Adam Shoemaker started for the Tourists and was hurt by his defense in the second. Zach Daudet fielded a ground ball to short with two outs and bounced his throw to first, a ball that Jack Moss couldn't dig out. The error opened the door for two Frederick runs, both unearned on Shoemaker's line, to put the Keys ahead 2-0 before Huezo answered in the third.

A passed ball by catcher Yosweld Vasquez in the fourth scored a run to put Frederick back in front, and Andrés Nolaya followed with a single to left to score another. 4-2 Keys. That was all the offense Frederick needed.

Jose Varela was the bright spot out of the Asheville bullpen, taking over after Shoemaker's four innings and throwing four hitless innings, no runs, two walks and four strikeouts. It was his best outing of the season.

Asheville and Frederick meet again Saturday night. Parker Smith takes the ball for the Tourists against Frederick's Twine Palmer. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.