P-NATS GET SWEPT BY LYNCHBURG TO OPEN YEAR

(LYNCHBURG, VA) - The Potomac Nationals dropped game three of their season opening series with Lynchburg 3-2 at City Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Hillcats completed the sweep of the 'Nats behind a strong performance from the bullpen who gave Lynchburg four scoreless innings.

The Hillcats got on the board against P-Nats start Adam Olbrychowski in the first. Nick Ahmed singled then Tommy La Stella blasted his first homer of the year out to right and Lynchburg led 2-0.

The P-Nats evened it up in the second off Lynchburg starter J.R. Graham. Sean Nicol walked, Wade Moore singled and James Skelton knocked them both in with a two-out single. It was Skelton's first at-bat in the Nationals organization. Graham would end up getting into a groove and ending his day with three consecutive shutout innings going five total giving up two earned.

Olbrychowski settled down after the first tossing three shutout innings in a row before the 'Cats got one in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, La Stella hit a sacrifice fly to deep left center that scored Robby Hefflinger. The P-Nats tried to respond in the sixth but Randolph Oduber was stranded after a two-out double.

Both bullpens were excellent. The Hillcats pen tossed four scoreless innings while Potomac got three clean of their own with Trevor Holder and Rob Wort tossing for the P-Nats.

The Nationals got a two out bases empty single from Nicol in the ninth but couldn't mount a comeback as the 'Cats completed the sweep. Graham took the win and Matt Chaffee pitched the ninth for his first save of the season in his Carolina League debut.

The Nationals have Monday off before a three-game series starting on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. in Myrtle Beach. Potomac will send LHP Matt Grace to the hill against RHP Wilmer Font of the Pelicans. The P-Nats open their 2012 Home Schedule with Lynchburg Friday, April 13th. Call us at 703-590-2311 for tickets!