P-Nats Quietly Drop Opener to Myrtle Beach 2-1
Woodbridge, VA---The Potomac Nationals (72-63 38-29) ran into the league's top ranked pitching staff Friday night, as they were held to just one run on four hits in a 2-1 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (80-56, 44-22). Though the Pelicans tallied only four hits, a critical error by 1B Matt Page in the eighth inning proved to be the difference in the game.
The two teams traded scoreless frames through the first 4.5 innings, as LHP Hector Silvestre (ND) and RHP Duane Underwood (ND) were both very good in their respective longest starts of the season in the Carolina League. Underwood, who has pitched at both one level above and one level below this season allowed just one run over 4.2 innings, while Silvestre got through the fifth for the first time in his first three 2016 Potomac starts. Silvestre allowed only two hits over five shutout frames.
Underwood buckled first, as Potomac put together a two-out rally together against the righty in the fifth inning. Page singled and moved to second base when Underwood hit LF Dale Carey with a pitch. Myrtle Beach went to the bullpen, but RHP James Norwood (W, 1-0) immediately gave up an RBI single to CF Victor Robles. Robles' single to right field was his third hit of the game, though RF Jeffrey Baez threw out Carey at third base for his 16th outfield assist of the season. Norwood gave up just the hit to Robles over 2.1 shutout frames.
Potomac went to the bullpen to start the sixth inning, and RHP Jorge Pantoja quickly allowed the Pelicans to get back into the game. Pantoja missed the strike zone with eight of his first nine pitches, as the Pelicans drew two walks and had men at first and second base for Baez with no outs. Baez popped out to Page, but SS Andrew Ely flared a single into shallow centerfield, and the throw from Robles was not in time to get DH Yasiel Balaguert at the plate. Pantoja stranded men at the corners, as the game was knotted at one after 5.5 innings.
After a scoreless frame from RHP Whit Mayberry, the P-Nats gave the ball to RHP Neil Holland (L, 1-4) for the eighth inning. With the game still tied at one apiece, C Ian Rice doubled with one out. After Holland got Baez to foul out to C Raudy Read, Ely hit a ground ball right at Page, but the ball went underneath the Potomac first baseman's glove. Page's third error of the season allowed Rice to score and made the score 2-1, the eventual final.
Carey drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning against RHP Daury Torrez, and 3B Kelvin Gutierrez had a one-out single, but DH Austin Davidson grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the bottom of the ninth, RHP Ryan McNeil (SV, 22) got Read to ground out and the Myrtle Beach closer finished the game with two consecutive strikeouts. With the win, Myrtle Beach has a magic number of one to host the first game of their first round playoff matchup with the Salem Red Sox. Potomac's magic number to host game one of the Northern Division matchup in the first round fell to three, as the Lynchburg Hillcats fell Friday night.
Set to start game two of the series, LHP Matthew Crownover (4-4, 4.27) will make his third start of the season vs. the Pelicans. Crownover is 0-1 with a 5.90 ERA in his first two starts vs. Myrtle Beach. RHP Erick Leal (10-4, 2.98) is scheduled to start for the Pelicans. The righty has only thrown 4.1 innings over his last two starts, as he works his way back from an injury in mid-July. First pitch Saturday night is scheduled for 6:35pm.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage beginning with the "P-Nats Leadoff Show" at 6:20pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is available at www.potomacnationals.com or via the TuneIn Radio App.
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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