Saying that tonight is a “big” night at Harry Grove Stadium would be somewhat of an understatement. Despite losing the last five games, the Frederick Keys are back in town for seven games at the Grove. The Keys face off against the Winston-Salem Dash tonight in the first of four games. The game is set to start at 6pm.
Tonight is jammed packed with more than just baseball. Dariel Alvarez, the recent Orioles signee, is playing his first game at the Grove tonight. He made his Carolina League debut in Potomac on Thursday, slapping a single through the middle in his first at-bat and finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI in Frederick’s 5-4 loss. In last night’s game, he went 3-for-5 but the Keys lost 7-3. To read more about Alvarez’s trip to Frederick, click here.
Dariel Alvarez taking BP at Harry Grove Stadium. vine.co/v/hOAu1QrrvYU
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Jeff Kurkjian (@jpkurkjian) August 17, 2013Alvarez will bat third in tonight’s lineup. Travis Adair, who has been nothing but hot lately will bat second. He has played in eleven games in the second half of the season and he is batting .366 (15-for-41). He is gotten just one hit in eleven at-bats batting second this season.
Trent Howard will start for the Keys tonight. He is 3-0 as a reliever this season with a 0.62 ERA. In eleven starts, he has yet to factor into the decision. He faced the Myrtle Beach Pelicans last week and gave up just one run and five hits in five innings.
For everything you need to know about tonight’s game, check out the game notes below.
*In addition to an awesome match-up between the Dash and the Keys, tonight is also the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo. Confused as what that means exactly? I understand. Check out this video! There will be a full show after tonight’s 6pm game.
One of the monkeys, Megan, paid a visit to the press box earlier today.
Hello, monkey vine.co/v/hOAWjJ5v97J
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Mike Mueller (@flapjackmemphis) August 17, 2013Monkey in the press box! vine.co/v/hOA715rOw6O
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Jeff Kurkjian (@jpkurkjian) August 17, 2013*Tonight is also the Rubber Ducky Giveaway Night. The first 1,000 fans to come to tonight’s game get a special Rubber Duck unlike any other.
*The Taco Bell Sauce Race became a huge hit on our blog last week. Two of our interns wiped out making for one of the more interesting/hilarious races we have ever had here at the Grove. Tonight, in front of a sellout crowd, the sauce packets are at it again. The rematch race will take place at the end of the seventh inning, so be sure to come out and check it out. If you missed the first race, check out this article.
*Tonight is also a firework night here at the Grove! After the game and following the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo, the Keys will light up the sky beyond our centerfield fence.
