Morse Goes 3-For-6 as P-Nats Split with Pelicans
Morse remained in the lineup after the suspended game last night and had hits in three consecutive at bats over the course of the two games. Through two full games with Potomac playing DH, Morse is 3-for-6 with a walk and an RBI. In a post game session with media, Morse says he expects to play five innings for the P-Nats in right field during tomorrow's game with Myrtle Beach that starts at 7:05 PM.
Resumed Game
Potomac finished up their suspended game from last night and held off Myrtle Beach 5-3.
Last night's game was resumed at 6:06 PM with Paul Applebee replacing Matt Grace on the mound for the Nationals holding a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Almost 22 hours after the original at bat started, Odubel Herrera was retired to end the inning on a flyout to center field. Applebee (2-1) recorded the win in relief going three and one-third innings yielding two runs on two hits.
The Nationals upped their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth with their second unearned run scored in the game. With Blake Kelso at third with one out, Michael Morse hit a slow chopper in front of the mound. Kelso scored as catcher Yefry Castillo could not handle the toss from pitcher Randol Rojas.
Jared Hoying gave the Pelicans their first run of the game in the top of the sixth connecting with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot, to cut the P-Nats lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Morse picked up his first hit with the P-Nats singling up the middle to score Adrian Sanchez and push the Nationals lead back to 5-1.
Myrtle Beach got a run closer in the eighth inning. After Josh Richmond doubled to lead off the inning, he came around to score on a groundout by Herrera to cut it 5-2 in favor of the Nationals.
Cameron Selik came on in the ninth inning for the Nationals. Despite allowing an unearned run, Selik picked up his seventh save of the season in eight chances to secure the 5-3 victory for the Nationals.
Game 2
Myrtle Beach won a pitcher's duel in the second game of the night at Pfitzner Stadium knocking off Potomac 1-0 in a seven inning affair. The game marked the second time this season that the P-Nats have lost a 1-0 game to the Pelicans.
Michael Morse had three plate appearances for the Nationals in the second game. In the first inning, he hit a single off to right field. His second at bat was his best of the rehab thus far: a shot that hopped off the right field wall for a double. The hit marked the third straight at-bat Morse registered a hit. His third and final at-bat in game two was a strikeout swining on a 2-2 pitch.
Myrtle Beach broke the scoreless tie with an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning against Potomac starter Trevor Holder. Christian Villanueva reached with a one-out single and moved up to second base on an error by Kelso at third base. With runners on the corner and two outs, Villanueva scored on an RBI single by Santiago Chirino to put the Pelicans up 1-0.
Despite outhitting the Pelicans eight to five, the Nationals could not push a run across against Myrtle Beach righty Nick Tepesch. The P-Nats left eight runners on base in the contest including two runners each in the first two innings.
Tepesch (4-3) picked up the victory for the Pelicans tossing five and two-thirds shutout innings surrendering eights hits and striking out seven batters. Randy Henry came on for the last four outs to record his seventh save of the season.
Holder (2-1) pitched very well but was saddled with his first loss of the season. Holder allowed an unearned run in six innings on five hits while striking out three.
The P-Nats will finish their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tomorrow evening at 7:05 PM. Matt Swynenberg (3-3, 4.94) takes the mound for Potomac and Kyle Hendricks (1-5, 2.67) starts for Myrtle Beach tomorrow night. Call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 or visit our ticket page on www.potomacnationals.com for more information.