Though LHP Matthew Crownover (L, 3-6) did not allow a hit over his first 5.2 innings on Monday night, the left-handed starter lost his no-hit bid in the sixth inning, and surrendered a go-ahead three-run home run to 1B Josh Altmann in the seventh inning, as the Potomac Nationals (38-33, 1-3) fell 5-1 to the Down East Wood Ducks (37-38, 2-3).
Both Crownover and LHP Yohander Mendez (ND) were brilliant through the majority of their respective outing. Mendez gave up a run in the top of the first inning, but allowed just one batter to reach base over his final 5.1 innings. Mendez walked 2B Bryan Mejia to begin the game, while 1B Ian Sagdal gave Potomac an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single. Mendez struck out nine and walked just one over 6.1 innings.
Crownover faced just one over the minimum through his first four innings, and didn’t allow a man to reach second base until the fifth frame. CF Leody Taveras picked up Down East’s first hit of the night with a two-out single in the sixth inning, but never made it beyond second base, as the P-Nats led 1-0 after six frames.
In the home half of the seventh inning, the first two batters of the inning singled off of Crownover. After 3B Brendon Davis dropped down a successful sacrifice bunt, which put two men in scoring position and only one out. Altmann got ahead in the count 2-0, and then hit a towering blast over the left field wall. His three-run home run proved to be the game-winning hit.
Already on top 3-1, the Wood Ducks plated a pair of runs, both with two outs, off of RHP Matthew DeRosier in the eighth inning. SS Anderson Tejeda started the rally with a single, and later scored on a double by DH Andretty Cordero. Two batters after that, Davis made it 5-1 with an RBI single.
The Wood Ducks’ bullpen duo of RHP Cole Wiper (W, 2-0) and RHP Michael Matuella (SV, 1) allowed just two total hits over 2.2 innings of shutout relief.
Potomac’s longest road trip of the season continues on Tuesday night, as LHP Nick Raquet (Debut) will make his first career Carolina League start. Raquet went 4-6 with a 2.79 ERA in 12 starts for the Hagerstown Suns in the first half of the season. For the Wood Ducks, RHP Robby Rowland (Debut) will make his second appearance of the season in the Texas Rangers’ system. On 6/20, Rowland allowed two hits and an earned run for Double-A Frisco.
First pitch at Grainger Stadium on Tuesday night is set for 7:00pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:45pm 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.
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