The Potomac Nationals (33-27, 17-11) used a five-run ninth inning to shock the Wilmington Blue Rocks (29-31, 13-16) at Pfitzner Stadium on Friday night 11-10.
LHP Gio Gonzalez tossed 3.2 innings in his first ML rehab start since being traded to Washington. Gonzalez allowed eight earned runs in his start, surrendering seven hits and four walks. He was limited to 65 pitches.
The five-run rally came on five singles, three walks, and a sacrifice fly from each if the nine batters in the order for Potomac. The big play in the innings came during 1B Justin Miller’s at bat when he lofted a shallow fly ball to center with one out and the tying run at third. 3B Khayyan Norfork tagged up on the play as the ball beat him to home plate. Norfork was initially called out until the ball popped out of C Cam Gallagher’s glove to tie the game. With two outs, RF Randolph Oduber chopped a ball weakly to third base and legged out an infield single with the bases loaded to end the game.
RHP Johnny Walter (BS, L, 3-1) took his first loss of the year. The win moves Potomac’s record in one run games to 15-6 this season. It is also their sixth walk-off win at The Pfitz this year.
Potomac started the scoring off with runs in the first four innings of the game. Oduber came around in the first on a 2B Tony Renda single. He also scored a run in the fourth after capturing his second double of the game. In the second inning, Miller belted on his second home run of the season to left field. DH Oscar Tejeda and CF Will Piwnica-Wormseach drove in a run in the third with RBI base hits.
The scoring for the Blue Rocks came in a large chunk in the third and fourth innings. CF Bubba Starling blasted a grand slam home run to left field off of Gonzalez in the third. In the fourth, Wilmington tacked on four more with back-to-back RBI-doubles from DH Michael Antonio and 1B Cody Stubbs in the fourth. The Blue Rocks used runs in the fifth and seventh to extend their lead to four.
RHP Yender Caramo twirled 4.1 scoreless innings in relief of starter RHP Luis Santos for Wilmington. For the P-Nats,LHP Bryan Harper (W, 1-0) took care of the final 2.2 innings in relief.
RHP Blake Schwartz saw his first action since being activated from the DL and went 2.1 giving up one earned run. LF Mike McQuillan collected two hits in his return from a DL stint.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will broadcast the second of a three game series against Wilmington on Saturday, June 7th. Broadcast coverage will begin with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 6:20pm in preparation for the 6:35pm first pitch. LHP Ian Dickson (1-4, 7.26) steps up to start for the Nationals. He will square off against LHP Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.09) for the Blue Rocks. June 7th is a fireworks night at the Pfitz as well as a throwback Jersey night. The P-Nats will don their Prince William Cannons jerseys.
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