Mejia's Grand Slam Highlights 9-3 Win

Lynchburg, VA-The Potomac Nationals (12-10) pulled off their largest come from behind win of the season on Friday night, as they took down the Lynchburg Hillcats (12-9) 9-3. Down 3-0 after two innings, Potomac scored the final nine runs of the night in route to the victory.
The odd trend of Potomac giving up the first run of the game continued on Friday night, as for the seventh straight contest, Potomac' opponent scored first, yet the P-Nats improved to 4-3 in those seven games. After the P-Nats squandered a bases loaded, nobody out situation in the top of the second inning, the Hillcats plated three runs off of RHP Sterling Sharp (W, 2-2) in the home half of the inning. 1B Anthony Miller made it 1-0 with a two-out RBI double, 2B Erlin Cerda followed with an RBI double, while LF Mitch Longo made it 3-0 with a two-out RBI single. After the frame, Sharp and LHP Jordan Mills (SV, 2) allowed just one hit over the final seven innings.

The P-Nats chipped away at the lead against RHP Micah Miniard (ND). Miniard hit the first man that he faced in the fourth inning, and after a misplayed attempted double play ball, Potomac made the Lynchburg defense pay, as LF Rhett Wiseman connected with a two-out RBI single, which pulled Potomac within two runs.
In the top of the fifth inning, Potomac sent nine men to the plate against the combination of Minard and RHP Justin Garcia (L, 0-1). RF Juan Soto began the inning with a single, and after a base hit from 1B Ian Sagdal put men on the corners, C Jakson Reetz gave Potomac the lead with a successful safety squeeze bunt single. Wiseman followed with a walk, which ended Miniard's night. With the bases loaded, LHP Anderson Polanco entered for the Hillcats, and his first pitch of the night ended up over the left field wall, as 2B Bryan Mejia tallied Potomac's second grand slam of the season. Mejia's first home run of the year made it 8-3. The P-Nats added a run in the ninth inning on a two-out RBI single from CF Blake Perkins .
After six strong innings and a second consecutive quality start from Sharp, Mills worked the final three frames of the night. Mills walked two batters but faced just one over the minimum over three-no hit frames.
In the win, eight of the nine Potomac starters recorded a hit, while Perkins, Sagdal, Reetz, and Mejia each tallied two hits. One night after their first shutout loss of the season, the P-Nats matched their highest offensive output of the season.
Looking for a second straight series win, Potomac will turn to RHP Joan Baez (0-1, 5.28) on Saturday night. Last time out, Baez allowed three runs over five innings in a no-decision to the Hillcats. For Lynchburg, RHP Jake Paulson (2-1, 2.20) will make his second straight start against Potomac. In his last start, Paulson allowed just one run over seven innings in a win against the P-Nats.
                                                                                                                                            
First pitch at Calvin Falwell Field on Saturday night is set for 6:00pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 5:45pm 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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