Woodbridge, VA-In a Saturday doubleheader between the teams at the top and bottom of the Carolina League's Northern Division respectively, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (25-17) and Potomac Nationals (16-25) split the twin bill, with a Potomac 7-3 win in game one, and a Wilmington 4-3 win in game two.In the
Woodbridge, VA-In a Saturday doubleheader between the teams at the top and bottom of the Carolina League's Northern Division respectively, the Wilmington Blue Rocks (25-17) and Potomac Nationals (16-25) split the twin bill, with a Potomac 7-3 win in game one, and a Wilmington 4-3 win in game two.
In the opener, Potomac got off to a quick start, as LHP Marcelo Martinez (L, 2-1) couldn't find the strike zone over his first two innings. The Blue Rocks' starting pitcher walked three in a one-run first frame, and then gave up four hits in a four-run second inning. DH Aldrem Corredor gave the P-Nats the eventual game-winning hit with a bases loaded three-run double, as Potomac led 5-0 after two innings.
On the mound for the P-Nats, LHP Nick Raquet (W, 2-5) faced just one over the minimum over his first 3.2 innings and had just three batters reach against him over his first five innings. In an effort to get through six frames for the first time in 2019, the left-handed starter struggled in his final inning of work, as he came two outs shy of his first quality start of the season. Wilmington loaded the bases with no outs on a double, a walk, and a single, while the Blue Rocks got on the board on an RBI groundout from 3B Dennicher Carrasco. LHP Hayden Howard entered out of the Potomac bullpen and allowed one inherited runner to score but stranded a pair in the sixth inning and then stranded two men on in the seventh frame, as he closed out Potomac's 7-3 win. The P-Nats got insurance RBI extra base hits from SS David Masters and CF Gage Canning in the fifth inning.
After a passing storm rained down on both teams in the final inning of game one, game two started after a brief delay. Neither starting pitcher, LHP Carson Teel (ND) for Potomac nor LHP Rito Lugo (ND) for Wilmington seemed to mind, as each worked two quick scoreless innings.
The P-Nats broke through first in the back half of the doubleheader, as CF Armond Upshaw tripled with one out in the bottom of the third inning and scored on an RBI single from 2B Osvaldo Abreu . Potomac held the lead for just half an inning and then never led again.
Wilmington tied the game without the benefit of a hit against Teel in the fourth inning. CF Blake Perkins led off the frame with a walk and moved to second base on a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt from DH Brewer Hicklen moved Perkins to third base, while RF Seuly Matias' sacrifice fly to right field tied the game 1-1.
The offense for both teams broke through in the sixth inning, as Wilmington plated three against RHP Bryan Bonnell (L, 0-1), while Potomac plated a pair against the combination of RHP Collin Snider (W, 4-1) and RHP Tad Ratliff (SV, 11). A bunt single from LF Rudy Martin paired with a walk drawn by Hicklen brought Matias to the plate with one out in a tie game. Matias untied the game with a two-run double that hit off the chalk down the third base line multiple times and stayed fair by no more than a few inches. Matias later scored on a two-out single from Carrasco, which proved to be the game-winning hit.
Potomac mounted a comeback in the home half of the sixth inning. In his second inning of work, Snider loaded the bases with one out. 1B KJ Harrison singled, SS David Masters was hit by a pitch, while C Alex Dunlap walked. With the bases loaded and one out, Wilmington turned to Ratliff in search of a five-out save. Ratliff entered the night as the league leader in saves but walked in two straight runs, as both Canning and 3B Anderson Franco drew a bases loaded walk. The two walks made it 4-3 in favor of the Blue Rocks, and with the bases loaded and still just one out, Potomac failed to capitalize. Ratliff caught Upshaw looking at a called third strike, while Abreu went down swinging. The Wilmington closer followed with a perfect seventh inning, as he closed out the Blue Rocks' 4-3 win.
With the doubleheader split, the Blue Rocks will have a chance for a series win in the finale on Sunday afternoon, while Potomac will try to avoid a series loss at home. For the P-Nats, RHP Andrew Lee (1-2, 3.19) will make his fourth start and ninth appearance of the season. In his last two starts, Lee has allowed just two earned runs over 11.0 innings yet hasn't picked up a victory. For Wilmington, LHP Daniel Tillo (3-3, 5.75) is scheduled to make the start. Ranked as the 25th best prospect in Kansas City's system according to MLB.com, Tillo has allowed at least four earned runs and gone fewer than four innings in two of his last three starts.
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Sunday afternoon is set for 1:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 12:50pm 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 Northwest Federal Field 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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