Salem Drops Pair in Potomac

Woodbridge, VA (June 8, 2012) - Salem scored first in both ballgames, but Potomac easily overcame a pair of 1-0 deficits and swept a doubleheader from the Sox, prevailing 5-4 in the opener and 4-2 in the nightcap. Xander Bogaerts launched his seventh homer of the season in game two, but the Sox missed too many opportunities and fell two and a half games behind Winston-Salem in the Southern Division. The Dash swept their twin-bill over Wilmington to create some distance between the two clubs at the top of the division.

In the opener, Adalberto Ibarra drew a bases loaded walk from Nationals starter Robbie Ray, forcing in Bogaerts in the top of the second to surge Salem in front 1-0. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Nationals rallied for four runs against Keith Couch in the bottom of the inning, culminating in Justin Bloxom's three-run homer to right field. Three innings later, the Nationals took a 5-1 lead on Chris Marrero's RBI single that plated Randolph Oduber.

Couch tossed a six-inning complete game, the first CG for Salem this season, but the righthander fell to 5-4 on the year, allowing five runs on nine hits over six innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. Ray improved to 3-2 for Potomac, while Joe Testa hung on to preserve the win despite encountering turbulence in his two innings on the hill. Christian Vazquez delivered an RBI single in the sixth, while Travis Shaw and Brandon Jacobs contributed RBI singles in the seventh to bring Salem back within a run. Jacobs represented the tying run at first base, but Bogaerts flew to center to end the game.

In the nightcap, Bogaerts crushed a one-out bomb to deep left against Bobby Hansen, Jr, vaulting Salem to a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, Jeremy Kehrt joined the Sox and set down the first seven Nationals he faced. But a single and two errors in the third produced the game-tying unearned run for Potomac, and the Nats surged in front for good in the fourth.

Michael Taylor's RBI double lifted the Nats to a 2-1 lead, while J.P Ramirez drove in two more with another double to make it 4-1. Salem delivered back-to-back doubles from Michael Almanzar and Carson Blair in the top of the fifth to bring the Sox back within two, but Hansen and reliever Jimmy Barthmaier retired the final eight Sox hitters of the game to complete the sweep.

Almanzar finished the twin-bill with two hits, the only Salem hitter to record multiple knocks on the day. Bogaerts complemented his homer with two walks.

Salem will have change for doubleheader revenge on Saturday as the Sox and Nats square off in two more at Pfitzner Stadium. Matt Barnes will oppose Nathan Karnes in game one, while Manny Rivera will take on Matthew Grace in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35.