Five-Run Sixth Sparks P-Nats to Victory
The Nationals sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth inning against reliever Jeremiah Bayer. Potomac loaded the bases and with one out, Adrian Sanchez reached with an RBI infield single to put Potomac on top 3-2. Francisco Soriano followed that up with the biggest hit of the night as he cleared the bases with a three-run triple. The three RBIs were Soriano's first three of the season. Soriano later scored on a wild pitch to cap off the five-run inning and make it 7-2 P-Nats.
Paul Applebee (1-0) got the win for Potomac throwing two scoreless innings on two hits while Bayer (0-1) was saddled with the loss surrendering eight earned runs in just 1.1 innings.
The game was decided by the bullpens as starters Bobby Hansen Jr. and Miguel Celestino each went the first five innings. Hansen Jr. gave up two runs on six hits while striking out a season-high five batters. Celestino also allowed two runs in his five innings of work on just two hits and he also struck out a season-high with seven strikeouts.
Travis Shaw broke the scoreless tie for the Red Sox in the top of the third with a two out, RBI single that scored Jackie Bradley Jr. to give Salem a 1-0 lead. Shaw finished the night with four hits and is hitting .420 on the season.
Potomac fought back in the bottom of the third to take the lead courtesy of production from the bottom of their lineup. Sanchez and Soriano reached to start the inning before Blake Kelso lined a two-run single down the right field line to put the P-Nats up 2-1.
Bradley Jr. tied up the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly that brought home Adalberto Ibarra.
Leading 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Potomac tacked on three more runs highlighted by an RBI single by Sanchez. Sanchez was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in the game.
The Nationals continue their series with the Salem Red Sox tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. Call our ticket office at 703-590-2311 or visit our ticket page on www.potomacnationals.com.