Home runs power P-Nats to 6-3 win

For the second day in a row, the Potomac Nationals (11-16, 48-46) put runs on the board in the top of the first inning en route to victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (12-15, 46-51). The P-Nats had double digit hits for the fifth consecutive game, scoring their six runs on 10 hits.

After a two-run top of the first on Wednesday night, Potomac’s offense doubled that total on Thursday, scoring four runs in the opening frame against Myrtle Beach starter Rollie Lacy (L, 1-1).

2B Bryan Mejia started things off with a base hit for the second consecutive game, a double down the right field line. Potomac’s leadoff batter advanced to third on a groundout and scored the game’s opening run on a single from DH Ian Sagdal. 1B Aldrem Corredor followed with a single of his own, setting the stage for RF Rhett Wiseman. In a 1-1 count, Wiseman launched his team-high 19th home run of the season, the second most in the Carolina League.

In a 4-0 game, Sagdal extended the lead to five with a solo home run (3) off of Lacy in the top of the second inning. Sagdal finished the game 2-4 with two runs scored and two runs driven in, his 25th multi-hit performance of the year.

The Red, White, & Blue added one more insurance run in the top of the fifth. With Wiseman on third, 3B David Masters tapped a ground ball to third, but 3B Wladimir Galindo’s throw was late. The RBI infield single for Masters gave Potomac a 6-1 lead at the time.

All of this offense came in support of RHP Joan Baez (W, 5-8). Baez worked in and out of trouble for the first three innings before the Pelicans scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth. The right-hander answered with a scoreless fifth inning before his night ended in the sixth. In total, Baez spanned 5.1 innings, giving up three runs and striking out four.

Myrtle Beach scored two runs off of Baez in the bottom of the sixth before LHP Hayden Howard came into the game. With a runner in scoring position, the first man out of Potomac’s bullpen retired the final two outs of the inning, ending the Pelicans’ threat without any further damage.

Howard worked the seventh inning in scoreless fashion, setting up RHP Jeremy McKinney (SV, 2) for the final two innings. Myrtle Beach’s offense was no match for McKinney, as the right hander struck out three batters over two innings without allowing a run. McKinney’s second save as a P-Nat secured the 6-3 win and a series victory for Potomac.

The P-Nats go for a series sweep over the Pelicans on Friday night with RHP Wil Crowe (9-0, 2.43) on the mound. Crowe is making his second start since coming off the disabled list, his first start of the season against Myrtle Beach. Potomac will face RHP Cory Abbott (2-4, 4.34). Abbott makes his first start of the season against Potomac.

First pitch at TicketReturn.com Field on Friday 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.