Potomac Edges Lynchburg in 9-8 Slugfest
Lynchburg, VA-The Potomac Nationals (60-39, 18-12) edged the Lynchburg Hillcats (46-52, 10-19) by the final score of 9-8 on Wednesday evening at Calvin Falwell Field inside the confines of Lynchburg City Stadium. The series opening triumph came on the strength of a three-run 6th inning which included a go-ahead RBI infield single off the bat of CF Michael Taylor. Both squads endured a 20-minute plus rain delay that started at 9:28pm.
The slugfest contest featured a total of 17 runs, 22 hits, four errors, and 14 men left on base.
Lynchburg RHP Greg Ross did not factor into a decision after turning in a pedestrian effort of 5.0 innings pitched in which he allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits while walking four and striking out five.
Potomac scored five total runs over the first two innings with two runs in the 1st and three runs in the 2nd. 2B Cutter Dykstra nailed a two-RBI double into the left field corner in the opening stanza. Then, LF Billy Burns swatted his Carolina League leading eighth double of the season into the gap in right center field in the 2nd to bring home the singles of 3B Mike Gilmartin and DH Randolph Oduber. RF Caleb Ramsey added a soft single the opposite way to left field to summon Burns to home plate.
The P-Nats poured on an additional run in the 5th inning to give the Nationals a 6-0 lead when the single of C Adrian Nieto scored on an errant throw by C Shawn McGill trying to cut down Nieto at third base after a wild pitch by Ross.
Nationals LHP Matt Purke also did not receive a decision after coasting through the first 4.0 frames only to have the ceiling cave in on him in the 6th when the southpaw allowed six runs, three earned, on six hits to let Lynchburg tie the game and effectively knock him out of the game.
Purke gave up an RBI double to McGill to the left field corner and a run scoring two-base hit to the same spot struck by CF Matt Lipka. A throwing error after a fielder's choice chopper back to the mound from RF David Rohm was charged to Nieto who was hoping to trap SS Elmer Reyes at third base. DH Josh Elander belted a two-run double up the left field chalk. 3B Kyle Kubitza applied the dagger with a yanked groundball RBI single to right field to chase Purke from the mound.
Purke went 4.2 innings and surrendered nine hits and one walk while fanning a trio.
Nationals RHP Greg Holt (5-0), the winning pitcher, recorded the final out of the 5th with a strikeout of LF Will Skinner, who batted twice in the inning as the Hillcats brought ten men to the plate.
The Nationals countered with three runs charged to the losing pitcher, LHP Robert Fish (0-1) in the 6th to give the visiting club a 9-6 lead. Taylor rapped an RBI groundout to the six hole scoring Burns, who walked, and 1B Kevin Keyes socked a groundball single off RHP Zach Jadofsky into center field that plated a pair of runs; the hit batsman Ramsey, and Taylor.
Fish recorded just one out in the 6th and allowed all three earned runs while walking two, one on an intentional base-on-balls.
The Hillcats bit back in the last of the 6th on back-to-back run scoring knocks, RBI singles from Rohm and Elander.
The Nationals had three players with a two-RBI night including Burns, Dykstra, and Keyes.
The P-Nats bullpen was lock down in Act Three as RHP Rafael Martin fired a scoreless 7th and RHP Rob Wort (SV 5) earned the two-inning save, his fifth of the season.
Martin knocked down the 'cats with a one-two-three inning.
Wort faced the minimum using a Lipka 6-4-3 double play ball to end the penultimate inning and struck out the side in the 9th to punctuate Potomac's triumph. Rohm was gone looking while Elander and 1B Trenton Moses fanned hacking.
Game Two on Thursday night is a scheduled 7:05pm first pitch with Potomac sending RHP Paul Demny (0-0, 0.00) to the hill for his 2013 P-Nats debut against Lynchburg RHP Jarrett Miller (7-6, 3.56).
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Thursday night with the P-Nats Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play broadcast beginning at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage of Potomac Nationals Baseball is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2013 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more!
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