For the second consecutive day, the Potomac Nationals (40-34, 6-0) went to extra innings. For the second consecutive day, 2B Max Schrock proved to be the hero, as the newly minted member of The Red, White, & Blue had a two-out 10th inning RBI single as part of Potomac’s 3-2 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (39-39, 3-5) Thursday night. Schrock, who had a walk-off single for Potomac Thursday, had his third consecutive multi-hit game and has eight hits in his three starts for the P-Nats since his call up.
In his Potomac debut, RHP Whit Mayberry (ND) dazzled over six+ innings. The righty, just recently signed by the Washington Nationals as a Minor League Free Agent, allowed just two runs and struck out seven. Mayberry gave up just four hits, but three went for extra bases, as the Pelicans had a single, a double, a triple, and a home run against the righty.
The P-Nats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning against RHP Jeremy Null (ND). Null allowed four straight singles with one out to LF Alec Keller, DH Khayyan Norfork, RF Drew Vettleson, and 3B Bryan Mejia, the latter two hits RBI singles. Despite eight hits and a walk, Potomac managed just those two runs against Null, who buckled down and turned in a quality start. Schrock was thrown out at the plate in the third inning on a fly out by Keller, while Vettleson was thrown out at third base in an attempt for a triple in the fourth inning.
Myrtle Beach got to Mayberry for a run in the third inning and then another run the seventh, though the right-handed starter had four perfect innings over the outing. C Erick Castillo doubled with one out in the third inning and scored on an RBI triple by CF Rashad Crawford. Leading off the seventh inning, DH Ian Rice launched his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, which tied the game. Mayberry’s pitch to Rice was his final of the night, as Potomac turned it over to the bullpen in a 2-2 game.
Out of the bullpen, LHP Matthew Spann did not record an out as he loaded the bases in the seventh. 3B Jason Vosler singled, while RF Jeffrey Baez and LF Daniel Spingola walked. Potomac went to RHP Tommy Peterson, who escaped the jam and kept the game tied at two. Peterson induced a double play from Castillo and then struck out 2B Andrew Ely.
The Pelicans left the winning run at first base in the ninth inning, as Peterson walked Baez with one out. LHP Justin Thomas (W, 2-2) entered and got two quick outs, which sent the game to the top of the 10th inning. With RHP James Pugliese (L, 1-3) in his second inning of work, Vettleson drew a leadoff walk. Mejia followed with his team leading seventh sacrifice bunt of the season, while C Matt Reistetter then walked. After Pugliese struck out CF Victor Robles, the Pelicans brought in LHP Tommy Thorpe to face the left-handed hitting Schrock. The Potomac second baseman hit a sinking line drive towards shortstop Gleyber Torres, as Vettleson ducked underneath the ball running from second base to third. The ball took a big hop on Torres and drifted into shallow left field. Potomac manager Tripp Keister sent Vettleson around from third base, and Spingola’s throw from left field was off line and late, as Schrock tallied his third RBI in three games.
Potomac called upon LHP RC Orlan (SV, 8) for the bottom of the 10th inning. Orlan struck out pinch hitter Yasiel Balaguert after he fell behind 3-0, got Crawford to pop out to Mejia in shallow left field, and got Torres to fly out to centerfield to secure the victory, Potomac’s seventh straight win, a new 2016 season high.
With the victory, Potomac remained perfect in the second half at a league best 6-0. Schrock had his second straight three-hit game for Potomac and his fifth straight multi-hit game dating back to his final two games with the Hagerstown Suns. 1B Jose Marmolejos’ ninth inning double, his league best 28th of the season, extended his hit streak to 11 games. The Potomac bullpen allowed only one hit over four shutout innings.
Game two of the four game series is set for Friday night at 7:05pm. RHP Austen Williams (0-2, 2.37) is scheduled to make his fourth start for Potomac. The righty has gone at least six innings and has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his three starts. Williams picked up a loss vs. the Pelicans on 6/18, as Potomac scored just one run in a loss to Myrtle Beach. The Pelicans will turn to RHP Erick Leal (9-3, 3.33). Leal leads the league in wins and is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts vs. Potomac.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage beginning with the “P-Nats Leadoff Show” at6:50pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is available at www.potomacnationals.com or via the TuneIn Radio App.
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