Back-to-Back Homers off Mattheus Sink Nationals

(WOODBRIDGE, VA) - Despite a multi-hit game from Chris Marrero and an appearance by Ryan Mattheus, the Salem Red Sox defeated the Potomac Nationals 3-2 in the final home game of the first half. The first two batters against Mattheus hit homers in the eighth inning to give Salem a decisive 3-2 lead.

Marrero was 2-for-4 in the contest with an RBI. He finishes the homestand 6-for-13 with a home run and four runs batted in over four games.

In his first rehab appearance from a plantar fascia strain in his left foot, Mattheus (0-1) pitched the eighth inning for Potomac. He took the loss allowing two home runs in an inning of action and threw 15 pitches in his first action with Potomac.

Marrero put Potomac up 1-0 in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout that scored Blake Kelso. Kelso led off the inning with a single and stole second and third base to get into scoring position.

Salem fought back to tie the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning. Xander Bogaerts led off with a walk and scored from first base on an RBI double by Carson Blair to tie up the contest.

The Nationals regained the lead in the fifth inning with an unearned run. With runners on second and third with one out, J.P. Ramirez scored on a throwing error by Bogaerts to make it 2-1 Nationals. Bogaerts attempted to throw out Ramirez at the plate and his throw was wide allowing Ramirez to score.

The Red Sox stunned the Nationals in the eighth inning with back-to-back home runs to take the lead. Against Mattheus, Brandon Jacobs and Bogaerts hit home runs on consecutive pitches to give Salem their first lead of the game at 3-2.

Trevor Holder made his fifth start of the year for the Nationals. Despite a career high five walks, he allowed only one earned run on four hits in five innings receiving a no decision.

Brandon Workman matched his longest start of the season for Salem pitching the first six innings. He yielded two runs, one of them earned, on five hits with five strikeouts. Workman also received a no decision.

Both teams had chances throughout the game but failed to deliver with men in scoring position. Salem and Potomac were each 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The P-Nats play take to the road for seven games starting with three against the Winston-Salem Dash tomorrow night at 7:00 PM. Matt Swynenberg (4-3, 4.83) takes the mound for Potomac and Jon Bachanov (3-3, 3.55) starts for Winston Salem. Potomac returns home on June 21st to take on the Winston-Salem Dash. The Potomac Nationals are celebrating their 35th Anniversary of professional baseball and family fun, for all your ticket needs please call the box office at 703-590-2311 or visit www.potomacnationals.com.