Nationals Take Rubber Match Finale with Dash 5-1
Woodbridge, VA---On Thursday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium, the Potomac Nationals (54-62 Overall, 28-29 Home, 21-25 Second Half) took their rubber match finale with the Winston-Salem Dash (59-58 Overall, 27-30 Road, 29-18 Second Half) with a 5-1 victory to improve to (7-6) head-to-head with the Dash in 2015.
The P-Nats are now a (4-5) club in their rubber games (series tied entering finale) on the current campaign.
Nationals starter, RHP Ian Dickson (2-2) equalized his win/loss record this season in the Carolina League with his second win. Dickson qualified for the victory after hurling the requisite 5.0 frames and allowed one earned run on three singles and five walks (tied a season-high) while fanning two and hitting one batter.
Meanwhile, Dash starting pitcher, RHP Matt Heidenreich (12-3), the circuit leader in wins and ERA entering the affair, suffered his third loss in '15. Heidenreich dealt 6.0 stanzas and surrendered three earned runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts to his line, as well.
Dickson tossed 83 pitches with only 42 registering as strikes, and Heidenreich threw 107 offerings and 71 pitches were in the strike zone.
Washington Nationals OF Reed Johnson played left field for Potomac on rehab while on the mend from a damaged tendon in his left foot in the clash. Johnson rapped two groundouts and made a pair of catches in foul ground along the left field line in the opening inning. Johnson played three innings and was lifted in favor of Nationals LF Alec Keller in the 4th.
The Nationals plated a pair of runs in the 2nd inning on back-to-back RBI singles from C Zach Wright swatted to left field and RF Estarlin Martinez nailed into left field too.
Winston-Salem plate a run in the 4th frame on a run-scoring single to right field by Dash LF Nick Basto.
Potomac took a 3-1 advantage in the last of the 4th courtesy of an RBI single shot into left-center field by 3B David Masters.
The bottom four swingers in the P-Nats' lineup went a combined 8-for-13 with four runs scored, two doubles, four RBIs, and two walks.
P-Nats LHP Justin Thomas turned in 2.2 scoreless innings of bullpen work behind Dickson. Thomas struck out a campaign-best five men. Thomas walked one batter and hit one man.
Dash RHP James Dykstra, who earlier this season tossed a 7.0 inning no-hitter, gave up two runs (one earned run) on four hits and one walk.
Potomac scored two runs in the 8th on an RBI double ripped by Martinez to left field scoring the leadoff walk issued by Dykstra to 2B Khayyan Norfork then Nationals CF Rafael Bautista socked the first pitch he saw to right field to deliver Martinez propelling the home club to a 5-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Nationals closer, RHP Phillips Valdez (SV 3) got the final out of the 8th after entering the game with two outs and walking Basto by inducing Dash RF Nolan Earley into a 6-3 groundout.
In the 9th, Valdez inked his third save in as many save chances despite loading the bases. Valdez got Winston-Salem C Sean O'Connell on a groundout to Norfork at second base before Dash SS Cleuluis Rondon reached on an error made by Valdez on a comebacker to the mound. Pinch runner T.J. Williams spelled Rondon then Williams took second base on defensive indifference. Dash CF Adam Engel drew a walk and 2B Eddy Alvarez sliced a single into left field to load the bases. Winston-Salem DH Jake Peter lofted a popup to Bautista in shallow center field for the second out. Dash 3B Trey Michalczewski lined out to left-center field and the galloping Keller made the squeeze to culminate the Nationals' "W."
The Red, White, and Blue went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the contest and submitted a total of 11 base hits in their 54th win of the season.
The P-Nats will entertain the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals) for a three-game weekend series at Pfitzner Stadium beginning tomorrow evening with a 7:05pm first pitch for the series opener.
Nationals RHP Austen Williams (3-3, 2.48) will be on the hill gunning against a to be determined hurler for the Blue Rocks in set Game One.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the "P-Nats Lead-Off Show" at 6:50pm before the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
Friday night at The Pfitz is Youth Hockey Night featuring former Washington Capitals goaltender, Brent Johnson on hand signing autograph for P-Nats fans in addition to appearances by the Red Rockers and Caps' official mascot, Slapshot presented by: Lindsay Automotive in addition to Prostate Cancer Awareness Night in conjunction with Ed Randall's Fans 4 The Cure. The Nationals will be giving out grey replica P-Nats road jerseys to the first 1,000 fans through the gates at Pfitzner Stadium (500 adult and 500 youth jerseys) sponsored by: NATCA. It's Halfway to Singles Awareness Night, C.D. Hylton High School Night, Recycling Pays Night, and HomeAid Northern Virginia's Night at the Ballpark. Kids will race the bases after the game sponsored by: Glory Days Grill.
The Potomac Nationals play at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League 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. The P-Nats are the defending Carolina League Champions after winning the 2014 Mills Cup Championship Series. Potomac Nationals 2015 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2015 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2015 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group 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!
-- Potomac Nationals --