DASH BLANK NATIONALS 14-0
LHP Matt Grace started strong for Potomac. Through five innings, he had just given up two runs in the first inning with one unearned.
In the sixth with one out, the Dash started a three-inning where they'd score 12 runs. Brady Shoemaker doubled, Mike Blanke walked and Michael Early walked to load the bases. Miguel Gonzalez smacked a single to center that scored Shoemaker and Blanke and the Dash led 2-0 on the hit that chased Grace from the game. Wilson Eusebio walked Kyle Eveland to again load the bases. After getting Daniel Wagner to pop up, Marcus Semien hit a high fly ball that just cleared the left field wall for a Grand Slam. Semien's first homer of the year gave Winston-Salem a 8-0 lead.
Grace (1-2) ended up going five and third yielding six runs with five earned taking the loss.
In the seventh, the Dash scored two more. With two outs and on one against Shane McCatty, the Dash put together a two-out rally with an RBI triple from Early and RBI single by Eveland. Winston-Salem tacked on four more in the eighth off Cameron Selik. The highlights were a solo homer from Trayce Thompson and a three-run double from Gonzalez.
Winston-Salem starter Ryan Buch was sharp in his first win of the year. He tossed five innings of one-hit ball while striking out six. The lone blemish on his line was three hit batters. Dash pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and two singles as the only two hits for the Nationals.
While Potomac didn't score and had only two hits, they did have 11 batters reach base. Unfortunately, they left every batter on base including leading the bags loaded in the fifth against Buch. They also had a runner reach base in all but three innings.
The P-Nats end their short four-game road trip with Winston-Salem with a 7:00 PM scheduled first pitch at BB&T Ballpark. Potomac sends LHP Bobby Hansen Jr. (1-1, 6.23) to face RHP Matt Heidenreich (1-1, 3.79) of the Dash. The Nationals return home on Friday for the start of the ten-game home stand. For tickets, call 703-590-2311.