Shut Out in Wilmington: Nationals Lose 3-0
Potomac had chances early against winless Wilmington starter Tyler Sample. They put runners on base in five of the six innings against Sample but couldn't get a runner to third totaling just two hits against the Rocks starter.
The Blue Rocks scored their first run in the fourth inning against P-Nat starter Matt Grace. Brett Eibner walked to open the inning. He advanced to second then third on a pair of groundouts. Jose Bonilla just beat out an infield single to the hole at short to score Eibner giving the Blue Rocks a 1-0 lead.
Wilmington added insurance in the eighth with two runs. Eibner knocked a single scoring Whit Merrifield to increase the lead to 2-0. Cheslor Cuthbert knocked a double that easily scored Eibner from first and opened the Wilmington advantage to 3-0.
Sam Runion came on and tossed a scoreless ninth to seal the 3-0 win for Wilmington. It was the first save in the first chance of the year for Runion.
Sample (1-5) got his first win of the year striking out six over five-plus innings. Grace (2-6) took the loss tossing a career-high seven and a third innings. Grace has earned a decision in all eight of his starts.
In the series, the Potomac offense was anemic. The Nationals scored just two runs on twelve hits being shut out twice. They did not hit a home run. Today, they failed to move a runner to third after sending just one runner to third in game one of the series on Monday.
After a day off tomorrow, Potomac starts a three-game series in Lynchburg on Friday night. Trevor Holder (2-0, 6.00) makes his second spot start for the Nationals with first pitch at 6:05 PM. The P-Nats return home on Memorial Day: Monday to face Myrtle Beach at 6:05 PM. Join the Party with the P-Nats by calling us at 703-590-2311 or visit www.potomacnationals.com.