Though the Potomac Nationals (9-7 Overall, 8-1 Road) call Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge their home, the way they have started the season, they may enjoy Frawley Stadium more than anywhere in the Carolina League.
With a 5-2 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (6-10 Overall, 1-8 Home) Friday night, Potomac improved to 6-0 at the home of the Blue Rocks in 2016. The P-Nats got a great start out of RHP Luis Reyes (W, 1-2), as the righty tossed his best outing of the season. Reyes allowed just two runs on six hits over six dominant innings. Potomac tagged LHP Colin Rodgers (L, 1-1) for a run in the first and three in the third, plenty for Reyes and the bullpen of the P-Nats.
For the third time in the series, Potomac got on the board first and improved to a perfect 8-0 when they score the first run of the game. CF Andrew Stevenson led off the game with a double and moved to third base on a double by SS Osvaldo Abreu. With men on second and third and no outs, 1B Jose Marmolejos popped out to SS Humberto Arteaga and failed to bring a run home. With C Raudy Read at the plate, Rodgers threw one to the backstop, which brought Stevenson in from third and put Potomac ahead 1-0. It was one of a season high two wild pitches on the night by Rodgers.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third inning when Potomac broke the game open with three runs. Singles by Stevenson and Abreu began the frame, and both scored on a two-RBI double by Read. DH Drew Ward plated Read one batter later with an RBI single, as Potomac led 4-0 after 2.5 innings.
Reyes was dominant throughout the night and made just one real mistake. With two outs in the sixth, Reyes gave up a single to Arteaga. 1B Ryan O’Hearn stepped in and cut the deficit in half with his fifth home run of the season, his fourth against Potomac. Wilmington trailed 4-2 after six innings.
Potomac scored the final run of the game, and it came in the eighth inning vs. RHP Derek Gordon. Ward reached as he struck out on a pitch that got away from C Chad Johnson and he then went to third base on a single by 2B Bryan Mejia. With men on the corners, LF Dale Careyexecuted a safety squeeze down the first base line, which plated Ward and made it 5-2 Potomac, the eventual final.
Out of the bullpen for the P-Nats, LHP RC Orlan tossed two shutout frames, while RHP Koda Glover (SV, 2) set down the Blue Rocks in order in the ninth. On the road this season, the Potomac bullpen has allowed just two earned runs in 34.0 innings, good for a 0.53 ERA. Glover has not allowed a run over his first six outings, which span eight innings. The righty has given up just two hits so far in 2016. Reyes ended the second and third innings with a double play, while Orlan wrapped up both the sixth and seventh on a double play. Potomac pitchers had just five double plays through the first 15 games of the season and had four in Friday night’s win.
The P-Nats will look to make it four straight wins Saturday night vs. the Blue Rocks. On the mound for Potomac will be RHP Wirkin Estevez (2-1, 7.36). Estevez has pitched twice vs. the Blue Rocks and has given up four earned runs over 6.2 innings in those two starts. Wilmington is set to start RHP Zach Lovvorn (0-3, 5.54). Lovvorn allowed three earned runs over just 3.1 innings in his lone start vs. Potomac.
The P-Nats broadcast gets underway at 6:50pm with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” via the TuneIn Radio App or at PotomacNationals.com.
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Chris Graham
