Nieto Carries P-Nats to 5-3 Victory Over Dash
Woodbridge, VA-Amidst the threat of thunderstorms throughout the Tuesday night proceedings at Pfitzner Stadium, the Potomac Nationals (49-30, 7-3) received a two-run blast from C Adrian Nieto in the bottom of the 7th inning to down the Winston-Salem Dash (45-37, 7-5) by the final score of 5-3. The Nationals have tied the three game series at one win per club to force a rubber match on Wednesday evening.
Due to pre-game rainfall, the Game Two contest was delayed to 7:15pm and ironically was one of the fastest games of the season at two hours and eleven minutes despite being a see-saw contest.
Potomac RHP Brian Rauh did not receive a decision but pitched well through 5.0 innings in which he allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits while allowing one home run and hitting one batter.
Winston-Salem RHP Bryan Blough, who also did not factor into the decision, gave up five earned runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings and walked three, fanned five, and surrendered one homer, the go-ahead Nieto four-bagger.
The Nationals struck first with one run in the 2nd inning on an RBI single knocked up the middle on the ground off the stick of SS Adrian Sanchez which scored Nieto, who walked.
Sanchez finished with a pair of RBIs. Nieto was on base after all four of his plate appearances.
The Dash tied the game with one run in the 4th courtesy of SS Chris Curley's second home run of the series and 15th of the season, a solo shot over the left center field wall.
The P-Nats returned fire with one run in the 4th to take a 2-1 via an RBI fielder's choice groundball from Sanchez.
Winston-Salem then captured a 3-2 advantage with two runs in the 5th as 2B Joey DeMichele ripped an RBI double to right field and CF Adam Heisler summoned DeMichele home on a sharply struck single into center field.
Potomac knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 5th inning when Nieto sprayed an RBI single into right field.
Nationals RHP Richie Mirowski (7-3), the winning pitcher, tossed a pair of scoreless innings, the 6th and 7th, and allowed just one base hit while collecting three strikeouts.
Nieto, against Blough, in the 7th, started walking to first base on a 3-0 pitch, when Home Plate Umpire, J.J. January called the offering a strike. Nieto got back in the lefty batter's box and cranked the 3-1 pitch off the third level of signage in right center field to give the P-Nats a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish.
P-Nats RHP Robert Benincasa (SV 4) is now a perfect 4-for-4 in saves after hurling for a two-inning save in which he surrendered just one single and struck out a pair.
The Nationals will send RHP Ivan Pineyro (0-0, 9.64) to the mound on Wednesday to clash with Dash RHP Myles Jaye (5-2, 4.96) with first pitch slated for 7:05pm.
Wednesday night at The Pfitz is an All-You-Can-Eat Wednesday presented by: Uncle Julio's and the P-Nats will also be holding the Second Annual Wing Fling in which area restaurants will participate in a buffalo chicken wing competition in the Washmydeck.com Picnic Patio. Fans must participate in the All-You-Can-Eat buffet in order to sample wings during the Wing Fling.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Wednesday night with the P-Nats Baseball Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage of Potomac Nationals Baseball is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.
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. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now 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 ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more!
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