P-Nats Open Second Half With Win

Woodbridge, VA- The Potomac Nationals (34-37) opened up the second half of the season with a 5-3 win over the Carolina Mudcats (36-33) on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium. After falling behind 3-0 early in the game, the P-Nats rallied for five unanswered runs in the come-from-behind victory. C Taylor Gushue  homered to tie the game in the third and LF Jack Sundberg  gave The Red, White & Blue a lead it would not relinquish in the fifth.
Carolina came out swinging to begin it's second half of the season. The Mudcats bashed two home runs and three total extra-base over the first three frames against LHP Grant Borne (W, 3-2) to jump out to a 3-0 lead. 1B Jake Gatewood led off the top of the second with an opposite-field solo home run to right. In the third, C Max McDowell doubled and DH Jose Cuas followed with a homer to right in his first Carolina League at-bat. Borne buckled down from there and eventually tossed his fourth quality start in a row for Potomac. The left-hander allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings of work. However, the three earned runs allowed on Thursday night were the most that the 23-year old has allowed in an outing all season long.
Potomac stormed back in the bottom of the third against RHP Jordan Yamamoto (L, 1-1). 2B Bryan Mejia singled to start and scored on a double off the bat of All-Star CF Victor Robles. Then, with two outs in the inning, Gushue got the green light on a 3-0 fastball and delivered it deep over the right-field fence. With his 13th home run of the season, Gushue snapped a homer-less drought of 23 games with the two-run round-tripper. The Potomac catcher's 52nd and 53rd RBIs tied the score at three after three. 
The P-Nats took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Potomac scored twice in the frame against Yamamoto to earn it's first lead of the game. Robles began the rally after he was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season with one out. After Robles advanced to second on a balk, Sundberg smacked a double off the top of the right-field wall and drove in the Potomac centerfielder. Then, Sagdal slashed a single to right to score Sundberg to give the Nationals a 5-3 advantage.
The Potomac bullpen closed down the Carolina offense the rest of the way. RHP Dakota Bacus  and RHP Gilberto Mendez combined for three shut out innings. The two relievers allowed just three hits to close the game while striking out three. Mendez earned his eighth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
In addition to giving Potomac the lead, Sundberg added three more hits to his tally. Sundberg now has 14 multi-hit games for the P-Nats in 49 Carolina League games in 2017. Meanwhile, seven of nine Potomac starters registered a hit in the two-run victory.
The P-Nats and Mudcats continue their four-game set at The Pfitz at 7:05 pm on Friday evening. Potomac sends LHP Hector Silvestre (6-2, 4.34) to the mound against RHP Trey Supak (1-2, 6.20) for Carolina. In his previous start, Supak allowed four earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched against the P-Nats on 6/16.
Coverage of the second game of the series begins at 6:50 pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network. The broadcast will air live on potomacnationals.com and on the TuneIn Radio and MiLB First Pitch apps!
This week's Flashback Friday will celebrate the 25th anniversary of A League of Their Own! The P-Nats will celebrate this hallmark anniversary of a classic baseball movie and welcome former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Virginia Ventura (Manina) to The Pfitz. She will throw out a ceremonial first pitch, and sign autographs, as well as meet and greet with P-Nats fans.
Saturday night brings a special, Potomac Baseball 40th Anniversary giveaway! The first 1,000 fans through the gates will take home a 40th Anniversary Team Card Set, courtesy of The Fantastic Store-Blowout Cards. The card set presents a look back at 15 of the best and most notable players in franchise history, and features players such as Barry Bonds (1985 Prince William Pirates), Albert Pujols  (2000 Potomac Cannons), and current Washington 3B Anthony Rendon  (2012 Potomac Nationals).
Sunday is Superhero/Captain Underpants Day! There will be Superhero-themed activities during the game, and kids will have the opportunity to meet Spiderman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the Hulk at the ballpark.The first 1,000 kids 12 and under will take home a P-Nats Logo Baseball, presented by PMSI. Also, the first 250 kids 12 and under will eat free, presented by Little Caesars. Kids will receive a voucher upon entering the stadium that is good for one free hot dog at the main concessions stand, as well as a voucher that is good for a free cheese pizza at participating Little Caesars locations. During the game, there will be a Kid Guest Public Address announcer, sponsored by Virginia529. Kids can sign up for the opportunity to be the guest PA during any of the P-Nats home games at fan assistance. Post-game, kids can run the bases, presented by Glory Days Grill, receive autographs from two players in the café area and families can play catch on the field. There will also be a face painter at the ballpark.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as corporate outings for the 2017 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket office at 703-590-2311.
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