Mudcats Rebound to Waylay Nationals, 12-2

Woodbridge, Va. - After things looked bleak on the outset, the Carolina Mudcats responded with a resounding 12-2 win over the Potomac Nationals on Sunday at Pfitzner Stadium thanks to a great spot start from D.J. Brown and a resurgent offense.

The game veered off its expected course from the first inning as both bullpens were called into action before the third frame. Dylan Baker was expected to start for the Mudcats (6-4), but went down with a lower right leg injury before taking the mound. He left the game on crutches and is undergoing further evaluation. Brown (1-0) made the emergency start and held the Nationals (5-5) to two runs on two hits over five solid innings.

Meanwhile, Carolina's offense went to work against P-Nats' starter Nick Lee (0-2). The southpaw walked two batters in the first, but escaped with three strikeouts. However, the Mudcats took advantage of Lee's erratic command in the second inning to force in two runs on back-to-back, bases-loaded walks.

The Nationals turned to Ian Dickson to limit the damage, but Jeremy Lucas drove a 3-2 pitch from the right-hander over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead. Five of the six runs in that inning were charged to Lee. He finished with one hit, five walks and four strikeouts.

Torsten Boss kept the press on for the Carolina in the third by drawing a leadoff walk and advancing to second on a wild pitch. James Roberts singled him in with a line drive to center. Todd Hankins followed shortly after with a double off the wall in left to score Roberts for an 8-0 lead.

Anthony Gallas belted an opposite-field homer to right in the fourth and the Mudcats held a commanding 9-0 lead. In the fifth, Cole Leonida gave Potomac their only runs on the day with a two-run homer to left off Brown.

The Mudcats quickly answered in the top of the sixth. Erik Gonzalez singled with one out and scored when Alex Monsalve laced a double to the right-field corner.

A wild pitch and groundout by Charlie Valerio plated the final the two runs in the ninth.

Carolina looks to salvage a split of the series against the Potomac Nationals on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. inside G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium. Left-hander Shawn Morimando makes his third start of the year. Potomac counters with right-hander Brian Rauh. Pregame coverage on the Mudcats Radio Network begins at 6:45 p.m.

The Mudcats return home on Tuesday, April 15, against the Salem Red Sox. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (919) 269-2287 or by logging on to carolinamudcats.com.