P-Nats Swept by Lynchburg in Doubleheader

Woodbridge, VA-A pair of matchups at Pfitzner Stadium on Saturday night went the way of the road team, as the Potomac Nationals (14-14) fell 3-0 and 11-3 to the Lynchburg Hillcats in the doubleheader. RHP Matt Esparza (W, 2-2) cruised over five-shutout innings in the game one start for Lynchburg, while the Hillcats' offense exploded for six runs over the first two innings in the game two rout.
Behind Esparza's shutout performance in game one, the Hillcats scored a single run in three different frames, all three times against RHP Wirkin Estevez (L, 1-2), who tossed Potomac's first complete game of the season. Estevez went all seven innings, struck out five, and walked three in the loss. Lynchburg scored a single run in the third, the fourth, and the seventh inning against the righty.

After both sides went scoreless through the first two innings, Lynchburg plated what ended up as the winning run in the top of the third. After SS Ivan Castillo reached on a fielder's choice, the shortstop stole second base. After Estevez induced a groundout for the second out of the inning, CF Ka'ai Tom came up with a two-out RBI double. In the fourth frame, Estevez walked the leadoff man in RF Connor Marabell, and he scored on an RBI groundout from C Daniel Salters. In the seventh, 2B Yonathan Mendoza walked with two outs, and Tom came up with his second two-out RBI extra-base hit of the game, as his triple made it 3-0, the final.
Potomac managed just three hits in the game one loss. LF Jack Sundberg singled in the first inning, and Potomac did not manage another hit until the final frame. RHP Argenis Angulo (SV, 2) gave up consecutive one-out singles to C Jake Lowery and 2B Bryan Mejia , but the right-handed reliever then struck out consecutive hitters and wrapped up Lynchburg's 3-0 win.
In game two, the offense was abundant both early and often for the Hillcats. Lynchburg tagged Potomac (L, 1-5) for eight earned runs over 3.1 innings. The Hillcats scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second, and another two in the fourth against the Potomac starting pitcher.
In the top of the first inning, five of the first six Hillcats hitters reached against Reyes. Marabell, C Martin Cervenka, and Mendoza each had an RBI single in the frame, as Mendoza's two-run single made it 4-0.
The P-Nats got back into it in the bottom of the first with two runs against RHP Kieran Lovegrove (ND). CF Victor Robles led off the frame with a single and then scored on an RBI triple hit by 1B Ian Sagdal . With one out, C Taylor Gushue appeared to hit into a 9-2 double play, but Cervenka couldn't handle the ball at the plate, as Sagdal scored, and Potomac tallied two earned runs against Lovegrove in the frame.
Lynchburg built the lead back to four runs with a pair of runs in the second inning. CF Andrew Calica drew a one-out walk, and DH Sicnarf Loopstok launched a two-out, two-run home run off of the Potomac videoboard. After Reyes got the first out of the fifth inning, Calica and Tom hit back-to-back singles, which knocked the Potomac starter out of the game. RHP Sam Held came in and immediately gave up a two-run single to Loopstok, which concluded the line for Reyes at eight earned runs, as the Hillcats led 8-2 after 3.5 innings.
Lynchburg tallied another run against Held in the fifth inning, and a pair of runs against RHP Mariano Rivera in the sixth inning. The P-Nats got back on the board in the sixth inning, as Gushue tallied his league best eighth home run of the season. Gushue's solo blast against RHP Dominic DeMasi made it 11-3, the eventual final.
RHP Jordan Milbrath (W, 1-0) tallied the victory in his first appearance of the season. Milbrath allowed just one hit over two-shutout innings. RHP Justin Garcia and RHP Ronald Peña each pitched a scoreless seventh frame for the Hillcats and P-Nats respectively.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Hillcats jumped over Potomac in the standings. The Frederick Keys also picked up a victory on Saturday night, as they leapt over the P-Nats in the Northern Division race as well. Potomac will head into Sunday in fourth place in the division for the first time this season.
The P-Nats will try to avoid their first series sweep of the season, as they match up with the Hillcats at 1:05pm on Sunday afternoon. RHP Hector Silvestre (3-0, 3.41) is set to start for Potomac. Silvestre is 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA over his last four starts. For Lynchburg, RHP Shane Bieber (Debut) is set to make his Carolina League debut. The Cleveland Indians promoted Bieber from Low-A Lake County on 5/5. Bieber went 2-3 with a 3.10 ERA in five starts for Lake County. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 12:50pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.
Sunday is Harry Potter Day at Pfitzner Stadium, full of Harry Potter themed promotions, graphics, and contests. After the game on Sunday, fans can meet two P-Nats players and get autographs after Kids Run the Bases. Fans can also play catch on the field after the game. Sunday is a Reading Program Day, where students who have participated in Uncle Slam's Reading Program will be recognized for their achievements in a pre-game parade.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play 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 nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as corporate outings for the 2017 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket office at 703-590-2311.
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