Ahrens' Walk-Off Home Run Overshadows P-Nats' Rally Effort
Lynchburg, VA-The Potomac Nationals (8-7, 4-4) rallied from an early 5-0 deficit on Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium on Friday evening to take a 6-5 lead in the 5th inning before the Lynchburg Hillcats (9-6, 4-4) tied the series opener in the 6th, and won the contest in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 12th by the final score of 7-6.
This was the first extra inning contest for the Nationals in 2014 and the longest ballgame by both innings (12) and time of game (3 hours and 19 minutes).
Hillcats 3B Kevin Ahrens' blasted a 1-2 breaking ball over the left center field barrier off of the losing pitcher, RHP Dakota Bacus (1-1) to propel Lynchburg to an instant victory after a lengthy and entertaining back-and-forth slugfest.
Bacus had retired all five hitters he faced until giving up the game-winning home run to Ahrens, which was the only base hit Ahrens had collected in Game One.
Lynchburg RHP Andrew Waszak did not factor into the decision after tossing 4.0 frames and allowing five earned runs on six hits including a home run while walking one and fanning four.
Nationals LHP Nick Lee, like his opposite number, also did not receive a decision, and struggled early before getting into a comfort zone.
Lee surrendered five runs, three earned, on eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts to his line.
The Hillcats plated a pair of runs in the 1st inning to take a 2-0 lead on a rare errant throw by Potomac C Pedro Severino that went into left field on a double steal attempt by 2B Jose Peraza and CF Kyle Wren before DH Josh Elander chopped an RBI groundout to bring home Wren.
The home club added three runs in the 2nd stanza via a bunt single by Hillcats SS Daniel Castro that resulted in a throwing error by 3B Oscar Tejeda leading to a pair of runs coming in to score in advance of a bloop RBI single into center field off the bat of LF Alejandro Piloto against a drawn-in infield defense.
With the Nationals trailing 5-0, the visiting team brought ten men to the plate in the 4th against Waszak and used a two-run tater rocketed over the left center field barrier by Tejeda, a two-run single spanked up the left field line by Severino, and an RBI sacrifice fly lofted to right field by CF Will Piwnica-Worms to tie the game at 5-5.
Potomac 1B Kevin Keyes gave the P-Nats a 6-5 edge on a long solo home run blast bashed out to left field on an offering from Lynchburg RHP Zach Jadofsky in the 5th inning. Jadofksy gunned through 3.0 innings and gave up one earned run on a lone base hit.
Against Nationals RHP Ian Dickson, the Hillcats grinded out a run to even the score at 6-6. RF Will Skinner worked a one-out walk before Castro singled to right field. Piloto then drew a base-on-balls and Peraza lifted a sac fly.
Dickson, who technically blew a save, was phenomenal out of the P-Nats bullpen going 5.0 innings and allowing just the aforementioned earned run on five hits while walking two and fanning eight, a new single-season, season-high for bullpen arms.
No runs for either club were scored from the top of the 7th inning through the top of the 12th inning.
Hillcats RHP Nate Hyatt pitched the 8th and the 9th and did not allow a hit or a walk. The righty reliever struck out four batters.
The winning pitcher, Lynchburg RHP Brandon Cunniff (1-0) dealt 3.0 scoreless stanzas and solved the P-Nats to the tune of just one hit and one walk allowed. Cunniff struck out four P-Nats swingers.
In the 11th, Potomac Manager, Tripp Keister was ejected by Home Plate Umpire Travis Godec for arguing balls and strikes after RF Brandon Miller was punched out on a borderline pitch. This was the first ejection of the season for Keister.
In the last of the 12th, Bacus attempted to strike out Ahrens for the fourth time on the evening and instead made a mistake pitch that lifted the Hillcats to a one-run victory.
Game Two will pit Potomac RHP Brian Rauh (0-1, 4.97) against Lynchburg RHP Mauricio Cabrera (0-0, 3.68) as the Nationals look to once again be in a tie for first place in the Carolina League's Northern Division. First pitch from Lynchburg City Stadium is scheduled for 6:05pm.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will feature the live broadcast of series Game Two on Saturday night beginning with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 5:50pm before the live play-by-play at 6:05pm.
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 four Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, and 2010) and eight division championships. Most recently, the P-Nats earned a 2013 Carolina League Northern Division pennant. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. 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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