Purke Earns First Win as Nationals Roll Red Sox 5-2
Salem, VA-The Potomac Nationals (64-40, 22-13) are now a season-high 24 games over the .500 mark after LHP Matt Purke helped roll the Salem Red Sox (51-56, 18-19) by the final score of 5-2 in Game Two on Monday night at LewisGale Field inside Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Nationals won their series with the Red Sox and improved to (12-7) against Salem this season with the triumph with help from LF Caleb Ramsey coming off the bench.
Purke (1-3) pitched through 5.1 innings in which he allowed two runs, but only one earned, on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
The southpaw did not allow a run through his first 5.0 frames and only allowed a pair of singles to LF Keury De La Cruz and C Blake Swihart through the 5th.
The Nationals struck first with one run in the 3rd inning on an RBI triple lifted to the gap in right center field off the stick of SS Adrian Sanchez to score Ramsey, who singled up the middle to get aboard.
Ramsey replaced LF Billy Burns, who was hit by a pitch leading off the game and had to leave the contest. Burns has now been hit by a pitch from a Red Sox hurler in three straight series and in all three instances, Burns was forced to leave the game.
Potomac tacked on two more runs in the 5th inning as Ramsey belted a run scoring three-bagger to the alleyway in left center field bringing home 3B Francisco Soriano, who walked. Then, a wild pitch from the losing pitcher, Miguel Pena (4-6), brought Ramsey home to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead.
Pena surrendered three earned runs on five hits in 6.0 innings while walking four and fanning a pair.
The Red Sox got their only runs in the 6th to make it a 3-2 for the Nationals on an RBI single off the bat of 3B Stefan Welch knocked through the right side of the infield. On a strikeout of Swihart looking, Welch attempted to steal second base, C Adrian Nieto tossed the ball passed the second base bag allowing De La Cruz, who reached on a single, to score, and Welch to go to third base. RHP Cameron Selik got 2B Mookie Betts to fly out to center field to end the threat.
Selik also worked a scoreless 7th inning in which Salem was sat down in order.
Potomac poured on individual runs in the 8th and 9th on an RBI single flared to the left center field alley by 2B Cutter Dykstra and a run scoring single off the stick of Ramsey also into that same gap, respectively.
Nationals RHP Rafael Martin (SV 1) earned his first save of the season turning in a pair of scoreless frames to finish off the Sox.
Martin allowed just one hit and one walk en route to closing out the proceedings.
The Nationals will have the opportunity to sweep the Red Sox for the second time this season at Salem Memorial Ballpark in the series finale tomorrow night with a 7:05pm first pitch on tap.
Potomac will look to earn a (6-1) record on their current two-city bus trip.
Potomac throws RHP Paul Demny (0-0, 0.00) who will face Salem RHP William Cuevas (6-6, 5.85).
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Tuesday evening with the P-Nats Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play broadcast beginning 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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