Astros take back-and-forth affair from P-Nats, 6-5

In the series opener between teams in first place in their respective division, the Potomac Nationals (26-24) put the tying run on second base with two outs in the ninth inning, but failed to convert, as they fell to the Buies Creek Astros (31-23) 6-5. Both RHP Sterling Sharp (ND) and RHP Abdiel Saldana (ND) allowed five runs in their starts.

Potomac jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame, as RF Jack Sundberg poked a double down the left field line on a two-strike, two-out pitch, which plated two runs off of Saldana. In the home half of the first inning, the Astros put runners on the corners with two outs, and with CF Ronnie Dawson at the plate, successfully pulled off a double steal of second base and home, as RF Chas McCormick scored Buies Creek’s first run of the game. Potomac led 2-1 after one inning

The Astros jumped on Sharp for three runs in the third inning and took a 4-2 lead. An RBI triple from McCormick tied the game, while 3B Abraham Toro followed with a towering two-run home run to right field.

In the sixth inning, both starters surrendered a run, as the P-Nats pulled within a run on a two-out RBI triple from 3B Jake Noll, but saw the deficit jump right back up to two runs on a two-out wild pitch from RHP Jeremy McKinney (L, 0-2). Buies Creek led 5-3 after six frames.

The P-Nats and the top scoring offense in the league didn’t go quietly, as they tied the game with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, both charged to Saldana. The righty departed for RHP Ronel Blanco (W, 4-1) with runners on second and third base with one out. 2B Bryan Mejia made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly, while CF Blake Perkins tied the game with a two-out RBI infield single. Potomac left the potential go-ahead run on base in the frame, and then did the same thing in the eighth inning. It was 5-5 at the stretch.

Buies Creek plated the final run of the night, which proved to be the game-winning run. Back out for his first full inning of work in the home half of the seventh frame, McKinney gave up a leadoff single to 1B Troy Sieber. After McKinney retired SS Kristian Trompiz, Sieber took second base on 2B Alfredo Angarita’s fly out to LF Edwin Lora. The advance proved critical, as it allowed Sieber to score on a two-out single from McCormick. McCormick’s second hit of the game made it 6-5 Buies Creek, the eventual final.

In the top of the ninth, Blanco retired the first two men that he faced quickly, but Mejia tucked a double just inside the right field line. With the tying man in scoring position, Blanco struck out Perkins and ended the game.

The loss was the fourth straight, and fifth in the past six games, for Potomac. The P-Nats now sit just 0.5 games ahead of both the Lynchburg Hillcats and Salem Red Sox, as both teams picked up a victory on Friday night.

Potomac will turn to RHP Wil Crowe (6-0, 2.54) in an effort the level the series on Saturday. Crowe has been charged with no more than two earned runs in six straight starts. For the Astros, RHP Hector Perez (1-1, 4.58) will have a chance to guarantee a series victory. The righty has allowed just one total earned run over his last three outings, which span 13.0 innings.

First pitch at Jim Perry Stadium on Saturday night is set for 5:00pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 4:45pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.