P-Nats Blitzed 14-2 by Wood Ducks in Road Opener

Kinston, NC-The Potomac Nationals (16-27) fell behind early and couldn't recover in the opener of their four-game series on Monday night, falling 14-2 to the league-leading Down East Wood Ducks (31-14). Despite outscoring the Wood Ducks in the final four innings of the game, the sudden deficit was too much to overcome.
3B Ryan Dorow was the star for Down East, hitting a pair of three-run home runs to put the home team at ease. In defeat, P-Nats 2B Cole Freeman hit a pair of doubles to continue his hot stretch at the plate.

RHP Malvin Pena (L, 2-3) struggled in the first, allowing an RBI double to CF Leody Taveras and the first of Dorow's three-run homers before recording an out. Eric Jenkins hit a two-out single to add a run, and a throwing error from SS David Masters brought home a pair of unearned runs to give Down East a 7-0 lead.
 
Peña almost had to depart the game in the first due to a pitch limit, but remained for 3.0 innings to save his teammates in the bullpen. He allowed another home run to DH Yohel Pozo in the third that extended Down East's lead to 8-0.
 
In the fourth, the Wood Ducks rudely greeted RHP Jeremy McKinney with RBI hits from 2B Diosbel Arias and LF Julio Pablo Martinez to extend their lead to 11-0. Dorow hit his second three-run homer off McKinney in the fifth to make it 14-0.
 
That would be more than enough for Down East starter LHP Jake Latz (W, 2-1), who allowed only a single from DH Aldrem Corredor over 5.0 scoreless innings. The lefty won his second consecutive start against Potomac after beating the Nationals in Woodbridge last Tuesday.
 
Potomac scored their lone runs in the sixth inning off RHP Cole Uvila, getting a leadoff single from C Alex Dunlap, a double from Freeman, a sacrifice fly from Corredor, and an infield error off the bat of LF Telmito Agustin to draw to within 14-2. RHP Luis Reyes pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless relief, but it was too late to mount a comeback.
 
The P-Nats continue their brief four-game road trip on Tuesday night as RHP Kyle Johnston faces off against RHP Reid Anderson in game two of the series. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:45pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show, with a scheduled first pitch of 7:00 from Grainger Stadium in Kinston. 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 10 CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the P-Nats' 2019 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. 2019 Potomac Nationals season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2019 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.