Friday, August 04, 2006

Frederick Keys


Went to a Frederick Keys game last Tuesday. They lost, 7 to 2, to Kinston. I've wanted to check out the Keys and Harry Grove Stadium for a while and it was now or never (at least for this season). Also, Jay Gibbons was rehabbing out there and was supposed to play the whole series. He didn't. I read in the Sunpapers the next day that he didn't play because of "general soreness". I did see another Oriole, pitcher Tim Byrdick. He came on in relief and wasn't very effective. He has since been called up by the Orioles and been pitching really well.



The stadium was nice but I think the Shorebird's Perdue Stadium is better. I wanted to take a picture of myself in front of the main stadium entrance but there wasn't a facade, just an entrance with chain link fences around it. I don't remember even seeing a name plate . But they had good beer. A minor league stadium with not one but two brewpub stands - Brewer's Alley and Barley & Hops. I tried an IPA from Brewers Alley ($6.00) and a pale ale from Barley & Hops ($8.00 but a bigger cup). They were both good but I seem to remember liking the pale ale from Barley & Hops a little better. I bought a pennant and an Orioles 50 year anniversay patch that was a real find. I almost bought the same patch at Camden Yards in 2004 but they were $10.00. When I tried to get one later that year, they were all sold out. The one I got at Frederick was $2.00 and the last one they had.



Coming home was a breeze until I got within a couple of miles of the beltway. Both entrance ramps to the beltway were closed.. What a nightmare! And I was lucky - I got there soon after they were closed. All traffic had go past the closed ramps down to where 70 dead-ends, make a u-turn, and then come back up to the beltway from the other side.



Up next - The Hagerstown Suns

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