Hillcats Eclipse Nationals 9-1 in One-Sided Affair
Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals (2-4, 0-2) were eclipsed by the Lynchburg Hillcats (4-2, 2-0) on Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium in a one-sided affair that gave the visiting club a series triumph.
The Hillcats outscored the Nationals 9-1 and used a 12-hit attack to pound Potomac, who mustered just three hits in the Game Two contest.
Lynchburg RHP Lucas Sims (1-1) was the winning pitcher after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just one earned run on two base hits.
Sims walked no one and fanned four. The righty's only blemish was a solo home run allowed to RF Brandon Miller, his first four-bagger in 2014, that buzzed the right field foul pole in the 2nd inning accounting for the only P-Nats' run of the evening.
Lynchburg pounced on the P-Nats with two runs in the opening frame against eventual losing pitcher, Potomac RHP Brian Rauh (0-1).
Rauh would be tagged for eight runs, four earned, on nine hits.
Rauh served up a two-run dinger to LF Josh Elander, his first of the year, that went out the opposite way over the right field barrier that brought home the leadoff single of 2B Jose Peraza.
This was the first home run allowed by the Potomac Nationals pitching staff in 2014.
Then, the 'Cats added another run in the 2nd stanza to give Lynchburg a 3-0 lead on an RBI groundout to first base off the stick of DH Levi Hyams, who had three RBIs in the game.
After Miller left the yard to yield a 3-1 score, Lynchburg plated five runs in the 3rd frame on RBI singles by 3B Kevin Ahrens and 1B Edison Sanchez before an RBI sacrifice fly by Hyams and a two-run double chased to the left field wall by SS Daniel Castro.
Nationals RHP Ian Dickson took the ball and dealt 3.1 innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits while allowing one free pass and striking out a pair.
Dickson surrendered a solo homer in the 5th off the bat of Hyams that hooked around the right field foul pole, his first of the season.
The silver lining for the Nationals was the stellar bullpen outings of RHP Derek Self and RHP Gilberto Mendez who together threw 3.0 scoreless innings in which they surrendered just one hit.
With the score at 9-1, Lynchburg's bullpen combined to pitch 4.0 scoreless innings combined between RHP Patrick Scoggin, LHP Matt Chaffee, and RHP Nate Hyatt, who closed out the contest by getting 1B Kevin Keyes to strike out in the 9th to leave the single of 2B Tony Renda on base as the curtain closed.
It will be breakfast baseball at The Pfitz on Thursday morning as the Nationals host Middle School Science Day with the Prince William County Public School System at 10:35am.
The ballpark will be filled with over 4,000 children who will be vehemently rooting on the Potomac Nationals.
Potomac places RHP Ronald Pena (0-0, 12.27) on the hill to oppose Lynchburg RHP Mauricio Cabrera (0-0, 2.25) in the matinee matchup.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will feature the live broadcast of the Game Three series finale beginning with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 10:20am.
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. The Potomac Nationals have claimed four Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, and 2010) and eight division championships. Most recently, the P-Nats earned a 2013 Carolina League Northern Division pennant. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season 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 Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!
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