After the Potomac Nationals (66-52, 32-18) and Frederick Keys (59-60, 23-26) combined for 65 hits in the first two games of the series at Nymeo Field, the series finale featured just eight hits in a 5-3 loss for the P-Nats. With the bases loaded and two outs in a tie game in the eighth inning, C Austin Wynns plated two runs with a double into the left field corner, which gave the Keys a 5-3 lead against RHP Jorge Pantoja (L, 0-1).
For the third straight game, Potomac plated two runs in the first inning. CF Victor Robles walked to begin the game, stole second base, took third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielding error by 2B Steve Wilkerson.LF Alec Keller, who reached on the error, scored one batter later, as RF Drew Vettleson made it 2-0 Potomac with an RBI double.
In a repeat of the first two games, the Keys answered immediately in the bottom of the first inning. In his first start of the season for Potomac, RHP J.D. Martin (ND) walked Wilkerson on four pitches. Wilkerson stole second base and scored on a one-out RBI single by 3B Aderlin Rodriguez. Martin stranded Rodriguez at second base, and then put together two consecutive scoreless frames. Potomac increased its lead back to two runs in the second inning on a two-out solo home run by 1B David Masters, though that was the final run that the P-Nats scored.
Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, the Keys made it a one run game on a two-out solo home run by 1B Cam Kneeland. DH Yermin Mercedes then led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk, took second base on a wild pitch by Martin, and scored on a game-tying RBI single by CF Josh Hart. Martin allowed three runs on three hits over six innings, while Keller allowed three runs, one earned, on only two hits over four frames.
In relief of Keller, LHP Jeff Beliveau provided three shutout innings. The lefty gave up just one hit and walked a pair, but kept the game tied at three apiece. Potomac got a bunt single from Robles in the fifth inning, a walk from Keller in the sixth, and a walk from Robles in the seventh inning. The P-Nats did not have a hit after Robles’ bunt single in the fifth.
After a quality start from Martin, Pantoja entered for the seventh inning and worked a perfect frame. But the righty issued a leadoff walk to Wilkerson in the eighth. LF D.J. Stewart laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, while the P-Nats intentionally walked Rodriguez. After RF Conor Bierfeldt flied out to shallow right field, Kneeland drew a walk, which loaded the bases. On the first pitch from Pantoja, Wynns drove home two runs with a double into the left field corner, which made it 5-3 Frederick. RHP Ivan Hernandez (W, 3-1) stranded men on the corners in the eighth inning and worked around a one-out walk in the ninth, as Hart stole an extra base hit from 2B Max Schrock to end the game.
The loss gave Potomac its second straight series loss, though Potomac’s four losses in the past six games have come by a combined five runs. Schrock, Abreu, and Keller each had a hit streak of at least four games snapped in the loss.
Off of the defeat, the P-Nats will make their first trip to Wilmington, DE since April. Potomac went 8-0 at the home of the Blue Rocks in April and are 18-4 vs. Wilmington overall this season. In the opener Monday night, Potomac will send RHP Boone Whiting (9-2, 3.14) to the hill. Whiting has allowed just one earned run in each of his last two starts. Opposite Whiting, LHP Matt Tenuta (5-8, 5.56) will make his fourth appearance of the season vs. the P-Nats. Tenuta is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in his first three outings vs. Potomac. First pitch Mondaynight is set for 6:35pm.
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Chris Graham
