P-Nats Bitten by Hillcats in Extras 8-6
Woodbridge, VA---On Tuesday night at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, the Potomac Nationals (6-6 Overall, 1-5 Home) got bit by the Lynchburg Hillcats in their first extra inning contest of the 2016 season. In 12 innings, the P-Nats dropped series Game Two by the final score of 8-6 following a two-run double off Nationals reliever, LHP Justin Thomas by Lynchburg 1B Bobby Bradley in the top of the 12th inning.
The Nationals lost their second straight series amid the club's seven-game homestand to go (1-5) on the latest pair of home sets.
The P-Nats and Hillcats played to seven lead swings in the ballgame including three ties.
Thomas (0-1), who was hit with his first loss of the season, pitched 1.0 relief frame and allowed the eventual winning run on Bradley's double, his only hit surrendered. Thomas walked two, hit a batter, struck out one man, and in total, allowed two earned runs.
Lynchburg bullpen arm, RHP Robbie Aviles (2-0) earned his second win of the year after pitching the 11th and 12th innings. Aviles did not allow a run, gave up just one hit, walked one, and struck out one hitter.
Five Nationals' batters submitted multi-hit efforts and P-Nats' bats collectively went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position in the seesaw clash.
The Hillcats' scoring began with two runs in the top of the 1st on an RBI triple gashed to right-center field by SS Yu-Cheng Chang before an RBI groundout to second base off the stick of DH Anthony Santander.
Potomac starting slinger, RHP Wirkin Estevez (no-decision) gunned through 5.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits without walking a batter while striking out two men. Estevez tossed 61 pitches and 46 strikes.
The Nationals returned fire in the home half of the 1st as 1B Jose Marmolejos belted a run-scoring double into the gap in right-center and 3B Drew Ward chopped an RBI single back up the middle to tie the affair at 2-2. On the Ward one-base knock, Marmolejos was thrown out at home plate on a bullet throw from Lynchburg CF Greg Allen.
The Hillcats pushed across one run in the 4th via an RBI double spanked to right-center by C Daniel Salters to break up a 2-2 tie.
Lynchburg starter, LHP Luis Lugo, who did not receive a decision, retired 10 batters in a row before Potomac LF Dale Carey blasted a solo home run out to left field in the two-run 5th frame just a few minutes after making a spectacular leaping grab while slamming into the left field stanchion to rob Santander of extra bases. The clout was Carey's second round-tripper in 2016. P-Nats CF Andrew Stevenson added an RBI single punched through the left side of the infield that gave the Nationals a 4-3 edge.
Lugo's line featured 5.0 innings pitched, four runs (three earned runs), seven hits, no walks, six strikeouts, one home run ball, and one balk.
Nationals bullpen man, RHP Mario Sanchez took to the mound in the 6th and surrendered three runs (one earned run) on four hits in 2.0 innings. Sanchez walked two and fanned three.
Off Sanchez in the 7th, the 'Cats plated two runs to take a 5-4 advantage. Santander ripped an RBI double to the alley in left-center and a passed ball through Nationals C Raudy Read summoned home Chang, who reached on an infield single down to third base.
Lynchburg grabbed an insurance run in the 8th charged to Sanchez on a sacrifice fly lifted to center field by Salters that put the Hillcats on top 6-4.
Versus Hillcats reliever, RHP Justin Garcia, who turned in 2.0 perfect innings (6th and 7th), and later in the inning, RHP Cameron Hill, The Red, White, and Blue tied the game at 6-6 by using another run-scoring two-bagger from Marmolejos off Garcia and an RBI bloop single off Hill from Ward. This knock was Ward's second run-scoring hit of the clash.
Garcia fanned four, walked none, and allowed two earned runs on three hits in 2.0 innings hurled.
Hill did not technically allow a run in 3.0 innings in which he gave up three hits and one walk with two Ks to his line.
Hill blew his first save of the '16 campaign by allowing an inherited baserunner to score and letting the Nationals tie the contest for the third time in the matchup.
Nationals RHPs Ryan Brinley and Koda Glover combined for 4.0 scoreless innings (total of three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts).
In the bottom of the 9th, P-Nats SS David Masters got on with a leadoff walk and pinch hitter Alec Keller singled into left field but the Nationals squandered a chance to score with runners on first and second base with no outs as Stevenson failed to get a sacrifice bunt down against Hill, DH Osvaldo Abreu fanned swinging, and Marmolejos struck out looking.
Read led off the 10th with a single smacked into left field but then Ward grounded into a 4-6-3 double play before SS Bryan Mejia popped out to shortstop.
Masters singled in the 11th with one out but the knock was wasted as Aviles pitched out of trouble and stranded Masters at first base after getting Keller strike out hacking and Stevenson on a 6-3 groundout.
Thomas got the first two outs in the 12th when Salters flew out to center field, and 3B Claudio Bautista struck out swinging. Then, Thomas walked Allen and Chang back-to-back before plunking Santander on an 0-2 pitch. Bradley stepped up a banged a two-run, two-bagger down the third base and then left field line to score Allen and Chang and propel the Hillcats to an 8-6 lead which would stand as the final.
Aviles induced Abreu into a 4-3 groundout before walking Marmolejos. Read, the tying run at the plate, then chopped into a game-ending 6-4-3 twin killing to seal the Nationals' extra-inning fate.
Potomac and Lynchburg will complete their three-game series on Wednesday at 10:35am.
First pitch for the Game Three series finale at Pfitzner Stadium tomorrow sends the top prospect (Baseball America's Washington Nationals #4 overall prospect) in the Nationals' clubhouse, RHP Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.23) to the hill to face off with Hillcats RHP Julian Merryweather (2-0, 0.00) in the matinee standoff.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the "P-Nats Lead-Off Show" at 10:20am before the live play-by-play at 10:35am. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
Wednesday's day game will feature Prince William County Middle School children on hand for Sports Profession Day geared towards educating children about careers in professional sports to benefit Supporting Partnerships and Resources for Kids (S.P.A.R.K.).
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 five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Potomac Nationals 2016 season tickets, mini plans, and single game tickets are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2016 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2016 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group ticket 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!
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