P-Nats Salvage Series with 2-1 Win
Woodbridge, VA---Two consecutive tough losses opened the series for the Potomac Nationals (55-45, 21-11), but thanks to a two-run home run from LF Bryan Mejia and stellar outings on the mound from RHP Whit Mayberry (3-1) and RHP Neil Holland (SV, 1), Potomac salvaged the series finale with a 2-1 win over the Salem Red Sox (60-41, 17-15) Wednesday afternoon.
Potomac won despite only four hits, as LHP Daniel McGrath (L, 4-5) tossed a complete game for Salem. The lefty faced the minimum over the first three innings, while Potomac's only hit in the first half of the game came from SS Osvaldo Abreu, who singled in the fourth. Mayberry gave up a single in each of the first three innings, but Salem did not advance anyone beyond first base until SS Deiner Lopez doubled in the top of the fifth inning.
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning, 2B Austin Davidson drew a one-out walk, and Mejia tucked a fly ball inside the left field foul pole. Mejia's second home run of the season, both on the most recent homestand, put Potomac ahead 2-1 and ended up as the game-winning hit.
The Red Sox answered with a run in the sixth inning, as Mayberry walked both 1B Nick Longhi and C Jordan Procyshen with one out. 1B Jordan Betts singled, which loaded the bases for DH Jose Sermo. Sermo, who hit three home runs in Tuesday night's Salem victory, hit a ball deep to right field, but it came up shy of the warning track, as RF Alec Keller tracked it down. The sacrifice fly cut the Potomac lead to one run, but Mayberry got Lopez to fly out to right field to end the inning.
After six strong innings from Mayberry, Holland pitched the final three frames. The righty worked around a leadoff single in the seventh, set down the side in order in the eighth, but ran into trouble in the ninth. Consecutive one-out singles by Lopez and LF Bryan Hudson put the tying run at second base for CF Danny Mars. Mars, who had four hits Tuesday night, drilled a ball right back up the middle, but Holland snared it out of the air and doubled off Lopez at second base to end the game and cap of Potomac's homestand with six wins in eight games.
Potomac will start an eight-game road trip Thursday night, as RHP Austen Williams (1-3, 4.56) takes the hill against Carolina RHP Raymar Navarro (4-2, 4.66). First pitch at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC is set for 7:00pm Thursday.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage Thursday night beginning with the "P-Nats Leadoff Show" at 6:45pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is available at www.potomacnationals.com or via the TuneIn Radio App.
The homestand concludes with an afternoon game on Wednesday. It's summer camp day, and also Winning Wednesday! If the P-Nats win, your ticket to the next home game is free with the presentation of the Wednesday winning ticket.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Potomac Nationals 2016 season tickets, mini plans, and single game tickets are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2016 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2016 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group ticket rates and all-inclusive picnics. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!
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