P-Nats Sweep DH with Keys on Walk-Off
GAME ONE: Potomac 5, Frederick 4
In game one, the P-Nats got off to a fast start against Frederick starter Justin Moore with lead off batter Blake Kelso doubling. The next batter Adrian Sanchez hit his first homer of the season out to left and Potomac led 2-0. The Nationals scored another run with David Freitas knocking a double that scored Ricky Hague in the third to make it 3-0 Nationals.
Frederick was able to get to LHP Robbie Ray in the fourth inning. Ray, who faced the minimum tossing just 20 pitches in the first three innings yielding five hits and four runs to the Keys all earned. The big hit was a Mike Flacco two-run double. Matt Sweeney knocked an RBI single and Adam David hit a sac fly to deep center to give the Keys a 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The P-Nats evened the score with three singles to start up the fourth. The third was a RBI single by Kevin Keyes that scored Michael Taylor to tie the game 4-4.
Matt Bywater relieved Moore who gave up four runs and ten hits in four innings. The second batter Bywater faced was Hague who lined a shot over the left field wall to give Potomac a 5-4 advantage going into the sixth. It was the first homer of the season for Hague in his 15th game.
Ray was able to navigate through a two-on, one out jam in the sixth by getting Sweeney to ground into a 3-6-1 double play.
Cameron Selik came on and struck out two batters in the seventh and final inning to preserve a 5-4 win. It was his fifth save in five chances.
Strangely both starters did not walk or strikeout a batter. Ray (1-1) earned his first Carolina League win and was aided by Hague who had three hits in the contest. Bywater (0-1) struck out five in two innings but took the loss.
GAME TWO: Potomac 4, Frederick 3 (9 innings)
Francisco Soriano came through in the clutch twice for the Nationals as they beat the Keys 4-3 in game two of the doubleheader. Soriano hit a single with two-out in the seventh to send the game to extras then knocked a double in the ninth to send the home crowd happy. Both hits scored Blake Kelso.
Jeremy Nowak smacked a solo homer as the second batter of the game against RHP Matt Swynenberg to start the scoring. It was the first home run yielded by Swynenberg in his seventh start of the year.
Frederick added another in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Nationals. Potomac responded with two runs in the third inning to tie the game 2-2. Both runs were unearned against Frederick starter RHP Tyler Wilson who was making his first start of the season for the Keys.
The back and forth battle continued in the sixth with Garabez Rosa hitting a RBI single that scored Matt Sweeney to give the Keys a 3-2 lead.
Ryan Berry tried to get a save in his first chance of the year in the bottom of the seventh. With two out and no one on, Kelso hit a blooper down the right field line for a double. Francisco Soriano then singled Kelso in to tie the game 3-3 and send it to extras frames.
After a pair of scoreless innings tossed by Rob Wort and Wilson Eusebio out of the bullpen, the Nationals had a chance against Frederick reliever local product Kenny Moreland who hails from nearby Springfield.
Kelso reached into a fielders choice after David Freitas singled. With two outs again Francisco Soriano came up with a chance to make a major impact on the game. This time Soriano smacked a fastball down the right field line that one hopped the wall scoring Kelso easily from first and the P-Nats won 4-3.
Eusebio (1-0) earned his first win of the season tossing a scoreless ninth. Moreland (2-2) took the loss.
The P-Nats were led by three hits from the lead off hitter Kelso. It was the first extra-inning game of the year in Woodbridge. The only other game the Nationals played that went extras was against Frederick in Maryland -- a game the P-Nats also won.
Tomorrow the P-Nats and Keys finish up their four game set at 7:05 PM at the Pfitz. RHP Kyle Winters (1-5, 6.99) takes the hill for Potomac. For tickets to "Date an Intern Night" please call us at 703-590-2311.