Lozada Goes 3-4 in Loss to K-Tribe
A tough start to Wednesday night's game finished as a 13-7 loss for Potomac at home against Kinston, capping a series sweep for the K-Tribe.
Coming off his best start of the season (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R), P-Nats starter Mitchell Clegg struggled with his command in the first inning. The lefty retired the opening two batters of the game, but the next three hitters reached base on two walks and a hit by pitch. UVA product Tyler Cannon capitalized on the opportunity and hit a bases-clearing triple, giving the K-Tribe a quick 3-0 lead. That was the only hit of the inning.
An error started the top of the second off in the wrong direction, and - just like Tyler Cannon - Casey Frawley took advantage of the opportunity. The number two hitter went deep off of Clegg, making it 5-0. The K-Tribe also grabbed three RBI doubles to round out a five-run second.
Potomac did well to climb out of an 8-0 whole, and it started in the bottom of the third. Centerfielder J.R. Higley torched a solo shot to start off the inning. It was his first home run of the year and sixth RBI. Jose Lozada followed with a single and three batters latter Destin Hood picked him up to make it 8-2. Hood now has a 27 RBI, second on the P-Nats (Souza is first with 33).
Potomac cut the lead down to just three in its next at-bat. In the bottom of the fourth, catcher Brian Peacock led off with a walk and DH J.P. Ramirez followed with a single. After a J.R. Higley sacrifice bunt, shortstop Jose Lozada continued his good night with a double that scored both runners. By the end of the night, Lozada finished 3-4 with two RBI and two doubles.
The very next batter, Eury Perez, duplicated Lozada's double, making it an 8-5 game. But that's as close as the P-Nats would get.
In the top of the fifth, Bo Greenwell - son of former Red Sox Mike Greenwell - iced things with a two-run home run. Greenwell finished the evening 2-4 with two RBI and was only topped by Casey Frawley. Owner of that two-run shot in the second, Frawly ended up going 2-5 with 5 RBI. The shortstop leads the K-Tribe in that category with 23.
Despite the loss, the P-Nats stay in third place in the Carolina League Northern Division - a half of a game ahead of Lynchburg. Kinston now owns the longest winning-streak in the league at four and has won eight of its last ten games.
Potomac has a day off on Thursday before starting a four-game series (including a double-header) with Lynchburg at the Pfitz on Friday. Click here to see what's going on at the park this weekend!