Nationals Slug Their Way to a 12-4 Triumph Over Salem
Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals (2-3, 2-3) slugged their way to a 12-4 triumph over the Salem Red Sox (1-4, 1-4) [Boston] on Tuesday night at Pfitzner Stadium as a trio of P-Nats mashers cranked home runs to carry the home club to their second win of the season and force a rubber match on Wednesday morning.
The winning pitcher, Nationals starter, RHP Taylor Hill (1-0), was effective through 5.0 innings in which he allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Salem scored first in the 1st inning with a RF Keury De La Cruz RBI double that scored 2B Sean Coyle who reached on a fielding error by SS Jason Martinson.
Martinson made up for the defensive miscue with three runs scored and three RBIs in the contest.
RHP William Cuevas (0-1), the losing pitcher of record, was tagged to the tune of eight earned runs on nine hits. Cuevas surrendered two home runs.
An inning later, C Blake Swihart triples into the right field corner to chase home the single of CF Henry Ramos to take a 2-0 lead.
Potomac answered with a single run in the 2nd stanza as 3B Blake Kelso, as part of a 3-for-5 night at the plate, ripped an RBI single into center field bringing home 1B Kevin Keyes, who finished the game with two doubles, one RBI, and one run scored.
The P-Nats would explode for seven runs as they brought 11 men to the dish and used seven hits to completely steal the momentum. Martinson crushed a three-run bomb to dead center field, his third of the season. Later in the frame, RF Randolph Oduber, the pride of Paradera, Aruba, hit a line drive grand slam blast to put a punctuation mark on his first four-bagger of the campaign. The ball Oduber hit was out of Pfitzner Stadium over both tiers of signage in left field in mere seconds.
The Nationals tallied another insurance run in the 4th inning when Keyes churned a two-base hit into the left field corner to summon home Martinson, who walked to jump on top of the Red Sox 9-2.
Salem scored one run in the 5th inning on LF Brandon Jacobs' first homer of the season over the left center field wall.
Potomac threw up a three-spot in the 6th stanza when DH Caleb Ramsey belted his second home run in as many games, a three-run shot over the right field barrier to push their lead to 12-3.
One run for the Sox in the 7th on an RBI groundout by SS Deven Marrero, who took an 0-for-5 with the stick, proved futile as LHP Christian Meza finished off a 2.0 innings stint in which he allowed just that one run and RHP Colin Bates slammed the door shut with 2.0 perfect innings to seal the Potomac Nationals win.
The decisive Game Three at Pfitzner Stadium will feature Potomac ace, LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.80) who earned the Opening Day win facing off with LHP Miguel "Mickey" Pena (0-1, 4.50) for a 10:35am matinee Middle School Science Day game on Wednesday morning.
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. Renew your season tickets at Pfitzner Stadium for only $50 per seat. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now in preparation for next season 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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