Lynchburg Pitching Leads the Hillcats to Victory

Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals (9-7) put the winning run on first base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but came up short in an attempt to win their second straight game in walk-off fashion.
 
Lynchburg (8-7) held on to win a game in which they committed four errors defensively, tied for a season-high for the team. The Hillcats received a stellar pitching performance from starter Justin Garza (2-0), as the right-hander did not give up a hit in his 5.2 innings of work.

Lynchburg gave Garza the lead before he even took the mound, scoring two runs in the top of the first against Potomac starting pitcher Matthew Crownover  (1-1). After an error and a double from DH Li-Jen Chu, 1B Emmanuel Tapia connected on an RBI double of his own for the first run of the game. CF Connor Capel drove in the second run with a ground out to first base to make the score 2-0.
 
Potomac scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third without recording a single hit. 2B Edwin Lora  was hit by pitch and advanced all the way to third on a stolen base and throwing error from C Logan Ice. LF Telmito Agustin  drove in the P-Nats' first run of the day with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
The Hillcats responded with one run a piece in their next two trips to the plate, extending their lead to 4-1 after scoring a run on a Crownover wild pitch in the fourth and sacrifice fly to left field from DH Mitch Longo in the fifth.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, LHP Billy Strode came in of relief after Garza's perfect frames. Strode immediately gave up the no-hitter, letting up an RBI single from RF Rhett Wiseman  to cut the lead to 4-2.
 
The P-Nats momentum didn't last for long, as RHP Stephen Fuentes worked himself into trouble in the top of the seventh. Three of the first four Hillcats reached on a single against Fuentes to start the inning, loading the bases with just one out. After Fuentes struck out Wakamatsu for out number two, he walked Chu to force in a run to extend the lead back up to three. LHP Jordan Mills  came in to retire the next batter of the inning, as well as the next six Hillcats he faced.
 
With the score still standing at 5-2, the Red, White, & Blue set out on their second straight attempt at a walk-off win. Agustin and CF Blake Perkins  started off the inning with a single and a walk, respectively, setting the stage for 1B Austin Davidson  to connect on an RBI single to draw the P-Nats one run closer. C Jakson Reetz  walked two batters later, representing the game-winning run at first base. Lynchburg RHP Kieran Lovegrove (SV, 1) came in to record the final out of the game to pick up his first save of the year and nail down the victory.
 
With the four game series currently tied at one game a piece, the P-Nats will attempt to get back into the win column with Sterling Sharp (1-1, 4.73) on the bump for game three. Sharp is looking to pick up his first win since his first start of the season on 4/6. Lynchburg will send out RHP Jake Paulson (1-1, 2.89) as they try to pick up their second straight win
           
First pitch on Saturday night is set for 6:35pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:20pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.
           
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 P-Nats' 2018 season and beyond are available, as well as all-inclusive corporate picnic outings to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. 2018 Potomac Nationals season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2018 season tickets, mini plans, group outings, picnic packages, fundraisers, and all things Red, White, and Blue, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com, follow the P-Nats on Facebook (@PotomacNationals), Twitter (@PNats42), and Instagram (@pnats42), or call the Potomac Nationals' Extreme Custom Collision Ticket Office at 703-590-2311.
 
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