Behind arguably the best start from a starting pitcher this season, the Potomac Nationals (62-48, 28-14) picked up a 2-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (40-70, 13-28) Friday night at Pfitzner Stadium. RHP Erick Fedde (W, 6-4) struck out a career high 10 over seven innings. The righty allowed just one run, unearned, and has allowed just four earned runs over his last 57.2 innings.
Opposite Fedde, RHP Zach Lovvorn (L, 2-13) was nearly as good as the Potomac starter, but once again, barely got any run support. Lovvorn started the night with a tough first inning, settled in, and retired the final eight men that he faced. LF Alec Keller led off the first inning with a single and moved to third base on a single by SS Osvaldo Abreu. With 2B Max Schrock at the plate, Lovvorn unleashed a wild pitch, which plated Keller and put Potomac ahead 1-0. Schrock singled, which put runners back at the corners, but the P-Nats failed to capitalize.
The Blue Rocks plated their lone run against Fedde in the second inning, and needed an error to do such, as they tied the game at one. Like the righty did in each of his seven innings on the night, Fedde retired the first two men in the inning. C Chad Johnson doubled off of the left field wall, while 2B Brian Bien reached on an infield single to 1B Matt Page. Page’s throw to Fedde covering the first base bag went into the Potomac dugout, as Johnson scored from second base on Page’s throwing error.
Page made up for his error two innings later, as he hit a two-out solo home run off of Lovvorn in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lovvorn gave up only seven hits, but Page’s home run proved to be the difference in the game. The right-handed starter allowed a triple to CF Dale Carey in the fifth, but retired the next eight Potomac hitters. In relief of the righty, RHP Todd Eaton allowed two hits in a scoreless eighth inning.
Out of the Potomac bullpen, LHP RC Orlan allowed a double to LF Anderson Miller, but stranded the tying runner at third base, as he struck out CF Brandon Downes. RHP Ryan Brinley (SV, 12) worked a perfect ninth inning and is now second in the Carolina League in saves. Wilmington went just 1-5 with RISP and is now 2-17 with RISP in the series and has left on a combined 18 runners in two losses. The P-Nats are now a season high 14 games over .500.
Looking for a fourth straight win, Potomac will send LHP Matthew Crownover (2-4, 4.79) to the hill. Crownover enters off of his best start of the season, as the lefty allowed only one run over seven innings in a victory over the Carolina Mudcats on July 31st. For the Blue Rocks, RHP Corey Ray (6-5, 5.21) is set to take the mound. Ray picked up a victory over Potomac on July 4th, as the righty allowed just one run over 7.2 innings. First pitch Saturday night is set for 6:35pm.
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