The Wilmington Blue Rocks (17-15 Overall, 12-8 Home) captured a 3-2 walk-off win in 10 innings over the Potomac Nationals (14-19 Overall, 7-9 Road) on Wednesday night at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in series Game Two courtesy of an RBI single shot into center field by 2B Ramon Torres.
This was the first walk-off loss of the 2015 season for the red, white, and blue.
The Nationals and Blue Rocks are now set for a rubber contest tomorrow night in Game Three as both clubs have claimed one victory in the best-of-three series.
Potomac is a (4-3) club against Wilmington during the current campaign after the one-run loss.
The Nationals are (1-1) in their extra-inning affairs in ’15 and (5-7) in one-run clashes.
Blue Rocks starter, RHP Jake Junis took a tough-luck no-decision after tossing 7.0 innings in which he allowed just two earned runs on four base hits without walking a batter and striking out eight P-Nats batters en route to the quality start.
Meanwhile, Nationals RHP Nick Pivetta, who also did not receive a decision, was very effective as well. Pivetta dealt 6.0 stanzas and surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. The Canadian-born righty fanned four Blue Rocks and overcame one wild pitch to even Junis’ quality start feat.
The P-Nats wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the 1st inning as the leadoff batter of the contest, LF Isaac Ballou singled through the deep hole at second base to get aboard before Ballou stole second base, advanced to third on a flyout to right field by DH Christopher Bostick, and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly off the lumber of SS Stephen Perez to center field giving the visiting Nationals a 1-0 edge.
Pivetta worked out of both the 1st and 2nd frames with groundball double-play balls and the Potomac defense in total turned three twin killings in the contest.
The Blue Rocks broke through against Pivetta in the 4th as SS Jack Lopez reached on a bunt single to the right side, 3B Mauricio Ramos ripped a run-scoring triple to the alley in right-center field scoring Lopez, and with one out, 1B Robert Pehl rapped a groundball to shortstop at Perez who threw the ball low under the glove of Potomac 1B John Wooten allowing Ramos to come home. The errant toss by Perez catalyzed a 2-1 advantage for the Blue Rocks.
Against Junis in the 7th, Wooten blooped a double into shallow left field beyond the reach of Wilmington LF Dominique Taylor and scored on a game-tying RBI single laced into right field by Nationals 2B Khayyan Norfork which evened the score at 2-2.
Wilmington RHP Robinson Yambati went 2.0 scoreless innings in relief behind Junis to send the game to an extra frame.
For the Nationals, RHP Jake Johansen (1-2), the eventual losing pitcher, was brilliant facing one over the minimum in 3.0 innings after Pivetta left the game. The power righty allowed just a double to Pehl and ended up with eight groundouts and one strikeout.
The winning pitcher, Blue Rocks LHP Estarlin Cordero (2-0), gunned through a perfect top of the 10th inning inducing a groundout to first base by3B Drew Ward, a popout from Norfork in foul territory, and a lineout off the stick of C Craig Manuel.
In the fateful 10th, Johansen served up a single off the end of Taylor’s bat into right field then Blue Rocks CF Logan Moon failed to get a bunt down and fanned offering. Wilmington RF Dex Kjerstad popped a single into shallow left-center field to extend the game setting the stage for the evening’s hero, Torres.
Torres laced a groundball back into center field that got a piece of the mound and it delivered Taylor to home plate to serve as the game-winning run.
Tomorrow night in the rubber contest, the P-Nats will turn to phenom, RHP Lucas Giolito (0-1, 10.38). The Blue Rocks will go with LHP Cody Reed (2-2, 2.08).
The Game Three finale will represent Giolito’s second career start in the Carolina League after he lost his first appearance as a Potomac Nationals hurler against the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) on May 8th at Pfitzner Stadium. Giolito allowed five earned runs in 4.1 innings while fanning five and walking two.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” at 6:20pm before the live play-by-play at 6:35pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
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