Four-run Frames Guide Hillcats over P-Nats

Lynchburg, VA-The Lynchburg Hillcats (8-5) scored four runs in the first inning and didn't look back as they evened up their series against the Potomac Nationals (6-7) on Monday night, beating the P-Nats 9-3.
Lynchburg RHP Jean Carlos Mejía (W, 2-0) entered his third start of the season with an ERA of 0.82, and the Indians pitching prospect overcame his first adversity of the season thanks to early run support from the Hillcats offense.

RHP Kyle Johnston  (L, 0-3), Potomac's Opening Day starter, ran into trouble immediately in the first inning. He allowed a leadoff double to CF Steven Kwan, and three batters later LF Oscar Gonzalez ripped an RBI double off the glove of RF Gage Canning  to put the Hillcats ahead 1-0. After an RBI groundout from DH Trenton Brooks extended the lead to 2-0, 1B Dillon Persinger capped the opening rally with a two-run double to give Lynchburg a 4-0 advantage.
Stymied for the first three innings against Mejia, the P-Nats broke through in the fourth. 2B Cole Freeman  led off the frame with a single, and scored on LF Telmito Agustin 's RBI double. 1B Aldrem Corredor  followed with an RBI single, and Canning came through with another run-scoring hit with two outs to draw the deficit to 4-3.
Just as it appeared Potomac was gaining momentum, the Hillcats answered back in the bottom of the fourth with another four-run inning. Gonzalez collected the big hit, a long three-run home run to end Johnston's night and put Lynchburg ahead 7-3. An unearned run scored later on an error by SS David Masters  to extend the lead to 8-3.
Both teams provided excellent relief, with LHP Hayden Howard  and RHP Andrew Lee  combining for 5.0 innings with one earned run allowed from the Nationals bullpen. Lee allowed an RBI double to RF Austen Wade in the eighth inning to cap the scoring, but fanned five batters to establish a Potomac season high in a relief role.
RHP Jared Robinson contributed 3.0 scoreless innings for the Hillcats, and RHP Robert Broom finished things off with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The P-Nats end their weeklong road trip on Wednesday afternoon as they look to take the rubber game of their series in Lynchburg. RHP Jackson Tetreault gets the nod for Potomac against Hillcats RHP Eli Morgan. First pitch from City Stadium is set for 1:00 pm, and the Potomac broadcast will get underway at 12:45 with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen live at potomacnationals.com, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Northwest Federal Field at 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 10 CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the P-Nats' 2019 season and beyond are available, as well as all-inclusive corporate picnic outings to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. 2019 Potomac Nationals season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2019 season tickets, mini plans, group outings, picnic packages, fundraisers, and all things Red, White, and Blue, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com, follow the P-Nats on Facebook (@PotomacNationals), Twitter (@PNats42), and Instagram (@pnats42), or call the Potomac Nationals' Extreme Custom Collision Ticket Office at 703-590-2311.