Nationals Put Double Digits on the Sox

The Potomac Nationals used a five run fifth inning to catapult them to victory over the Salem Red Sox in a game filled with offense at LewisGale Field Sunday. The Nationals scored seven runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth, and held off the Sox the rest of the way.

 

Dakota Bacus picked up for the win for the P-Nats. Bacus threw five innings, allowing six hits and three runs, walking four and striking out 6. Cody Kukuk was dealt the loss for the Sox. Kukuk lasted just four and two thirds, surrendering seven runs, six earned, and nine hits. He struck out six and walked two.

 

The Nationals got a run in the first when a throwing error by Kukuk on a pickoff attempt at first scored Tony Renda from third. The Sox answered in the bottom of the frame when Mario Martinez drove in Jonathan Roof. In the second, the Nationals took a 3-1 lead on a RBI single by Narciso Mesa and a double play ball which got a run home.

 

The Sox again answered, with two of their own in the bottom of the third. Bo Greenwell doubled home Matty Johnson to get the score to 3-2. The Roof picked up his first of two RBIs on a single to right.

 

The Nationals took the lead for good in the fourth. Will Piwnica-Worms homered to left to make it 6-5. Then in the fifth, six consecutive hits brought home five runs and the P-Nats led 9-3.

 

The Red Sox didn't go down without a fight. With the score 10-3 in the seventh, singles by Johnson, Roof and Gragnani, a double by Martinez, and another single by Heller brought home three runs and made it 10-6. Eventually the Sox loaded the bases with two out and brought the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Mager struck out to end the threat.

 

With the loss, Salem falls 5.5 games behind Myrtle Beach in the South division. Salem and Potomac return to LewisGale Field for the series finale tomorrow at 1:05. Luis Diaz takes the ball for the Sox while Ian Dickson goes for the Nationals.