The Potomac Nationals (51-43, 13-12) and Wilmington Blue Rocks (46-48, 13-13) split a de facto double header on Thursday night. Potomac walked-off in the resumption of a suspended game in Game One. LF Randolph Oduber supplied the game-winning hit to left field that scored RF Estarlin Martinez. Wilmington took Game Two 4-1 in a tightly contested affair.
Game One picked up in the sixth inning with two runners on base for Potomac. LHP Kyle Bartsch (L, 5-4) got out of the sixth, but allowed the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh to Oduber. RHP Richie Mirowski (W, 1-0) notched the easiest win of his career. He tossed a scoreless seventh and then sat back and took in the walk off.
Game Two was a battle of two quality starts from each of the starting pitchers. RHP Glenn Sparkman (W, 6-2) allowed seven hits and a run over six innings while striking out five. RHP Dakota Bacus (L, 3-5) took the tough luck loss for Potomac. He went seven strong and struck out four while surrendering two runs on seven hits.
Wilmington took the lead in the first and never looked back from there. DH Michael Antonio launched a ground-rule double to centerfield that scored 2B Jack Lopez. In the second inning, it was a LF Terrence Gore single that plated 1B Jared Schlehuber for the second run of the game.
Potomac answered in the bottom of the third frame when 1B Shawn Pleffner’s single cut the lead in half, scoring CF Eury Perez. The P-Nats were shut out from there by Sparkman, RHP Aroni Nina and RHP Mark Peterson (Sv, 20).
The Rocks tacked on a couple of unnecessary insurance runs in the eighth. C Zane Evans and Schlehuber each drove in a run off LHP Jake Walsh. Walsh was great though in his two innings. He did not allow any hard contact and struck out four batters.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will broadcast the final game of a five game series against Wilmington on Friday, July 18th. Broadcast coverage will begin with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the 7:05pm start. The P-Nats are will throw RHP Austin Voth (2-0, 0.35) while Wilmington will send LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (5-5, 2.82) to the mound.
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Chris Graham
