Early offense runs Potomac Nationals win streak to three

Though the Potomac Nationals (4-2) fell behind before their first opportunity at the plate, they earned a series win and set up a sweep opportunity with an 8-4 win over the Down East Wood Ducks (2-4) Tuesday night. Potomac spotted the Wood Ducks a 1-0 lead after half an inning, but with a three run home half of the frame, took control of the game and never looked back. LHP Matthew Crownover (W, 1-0) allowed just one run on five hits, as he tallied Potomac’s first quality start of the season. Spotty defense throughout the game by Down East, four errors, led to four unearned runs against the Wood Ducks’ pitching staff.

Crownover gave up his lone run just four batters into the game. After one-out singles by DH Blaine Prescott and CF Leody Taveras, C Alex Kowalczyk made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly. Crownover allowed just two other runners to reach scoring position over six innings.

For the second straight night, the P-Nats tagged the opposing starter for three runs in the first frame. The first three Potomac hitters reached on a pair of singles and an error, while DH Jake Noll tied the game with an RBI groundout. 3B Austin Davidson followed with an RBI single, his sixth RBI in six games. 1B Ian Sagdal plated a run on a groundout, as the P-Nats led 3-1 after one inning.

LHP Christian Torres (L, 0-1) saw his defense plague him once more in the third inning, as the P-Nats scored two more runs and put the game away. Another RBI single from Davidson plated SS Carter Kieboom, while 3B Bryan Mejia, who entered as a pinch runner for Sagdal in the first inning, made it 5-1 with an RBI single of his own. Mejia’s single proved to be the eventual game-winning hit.

Potomac put up another crooked number on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, this time against RHP Kaleb Fontenot. The first three batters of the inning reached successfully, as 2B Edwin Lora was hit by a pitch, LF Telmito Agustin doubled, and CF Blake Perkins plated both runners with a single.

The Wood Ducks put their only big offensive inning together in the seventh inning against RHP Mariano Rivera III. 1B Andretty Cordero plated two men with a double, and later scored on a single by SS Anderson Tejeda. Potomac wrapped up the scoring with a run in the seventh inning, as a run crossed the plate on a double play.

On rehab from the Washington Nationals, C Matt Wieters went 1-4 with one run and a strikeout.

With a series win in hand and a chance at their first sweep of the season, Potomac will turn to RHP Sterling Sharp (1-0, 1.80) on Wednesday morning. Sharp allowed just one run on seven hits in his season debut, a victory over Wilmington. For the Wood Ducks, RHP Emerson Martinez (0-1, 2.25) is set to make his second start of the season. Martinez allowed just one run on three hits in his debut, a loss to Lynchburg.

First pitch on Wednesday morning is set for 10:35am. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 10:20am with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.