Potomac Nationals fall short of series sweep against Frederick

The Potomac Nationals (29-26) could not complete a sweep of the Frederick Keys (24-32), falling 4-2 on Thursday night.

After outscoring the Keys 21-1 in the first two games of the series, it was Frederick’s offense that jumped out to the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the second off of Potomac starter Sterling Sharp (L, 4-3).

3B Jomar Reyes started the inning with a leadoff double and scored when the next batter, 1B Collin Woody, connected on a two-run home run (4). Frederick extended their lead in the top of the fourth when C Yojhan Quevedo plated Woody with an RBI double.

Potomac was silenced by Frederick starter Michael Baumann (W, 3-0) for the first five innings, but finally broke through in the sixth. After CF Adam Eaton led off the inning with a walk, SS Carter Kieboom knocked Baumann out of the game with a double. With two runners in scoring position, 1B Ian Sagdal drove home a run against LHP Tyler Erwin with an RBI groundout. 3B Jake Noll made it a 3-2 game with a run-scoring single in the next at-bat.

Frederick took a run back in the top of the seventh after RF Cole Billingsley reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base, and scored on a single form SS Chris Clare.

RHP Darren O’Day, making his second appearance on rehab, and LHP Zach Muckenhirn (SV, 3) combined for three innings of scoreless baseball to preserve the win for Frederick.

Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton went 1-3 with a run scored, a walk, and a hit by pitch in his third game as a P-Nat.

After the series victory over Frederick, The P-Nats will hit the road for a nine-game road trip over the course of six days. Potomac will first head to Lynchburg for a four-game series, where RHP Wil Crowe (7-0, 2.63) will make the start for The Red, White, & Blue on Friday night. Crowe is tied for the league lead with seven wins. Lynchburg will counter with RHP Eli Morgan (2-0, 1.96), who will be facing Potomac for the first time this season.

First pitch at Calvin Falwell Field on Friday Night is set for 6:30pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:15pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.