Behind seven dominant innings from RHP Kyle Johnston (W, 5-1), the Potomac Nationals (69-59, 32-29) picked up a 4-1 win over the Frederick Keys (62-69, 27-35) on Monday night. Johnston allowed just one run on four hits over seven innings in his fourth quality start in eight starts for Potomac.
Both pitchers cruised through the first portion of the game, as the teams combined for just two hits over the first four innings. 2B Alejandro Juvier singled off of Johnston in the third inning, while DH Bryan Mejia tallied a bunt base hit off of LHP Zac Lowther (L, 5-3) in the fourth frame.
Frederick got the scoring started in the opener, as the Keys scored their lone run of the night in the fifth inning. SS Chris Clare singled with two outs, and then scored one batter later on a double from Juvier. Lowther followed with a perfect fifth inning, but ran into trouble in the sixth frame.
After a quick out to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, Lowther hit C Jakson Reetz with a pitch. LF Telmito Agustin followed with a single, while both runners scored on a double by Mejia. Mejia’s team-leading 28th double of the season gave Potomac a 2-1 lead.
The P-Nats added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning against the Frederick bullpen combination of RHP Steven Klimek and LHP Alex Katz. With two men on and one out, SS Luis Garcia extended his hit streak to four games with an RBI single off of Klimek. The Keys then went to Katz, who surrendered a two-out RBI single to 3B David Masters. Potomac took a 4-1 lead into the ninth inning.
Johnston pitched through the seventh frame, while RHP Carlos Acevedo worked around a pair of singles in a scoreless eighth inning. RHP Steven Fuentes (SV, 3) entered for the ninth inning and tallied his third save in three opportunities. DH Wilson Garcia reached on a leadoff error, while 3B Jomar Reyes brought the tying run to the plate with a one-out single. Fuentes got RF T.J. Nichting to foul out to 3B David Masters, while Clare lined out sharply to Agustin on the left field warning track to end the game, as Potomac closed out a 4-2 win.
Game two of the four-game series is set for Tuesday night, as LHP Nick Raquet (3-3, 5.95) is scheduled to start for Potomac. Raquet didn’t allow a run over five innings in his last start, a victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats. RHP Cristian Alvarado (11-10, 4.28) will aim to level the series for the Keys. Alvarado is tied for the league lead in wins, but has a 6.35 ERA in two starts vs. Potomac.
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Tuesday is set for 7:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:50pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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Chris Graham
