For the third consecutive outing, LHP Matthew Crownover (L, 3-7) notched a quality start, but for the third straight time, he picked up the loss for the Potomac Nationals (40-36, 3-6). Despite six innings of two-run baseball from Crownover, Potomac failed to cash in on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (36-44, 2-6), who had dropped six consecutive games. Myrtle Beach plated a run in the first inning and never looked back in a 4-1 win.
The P-Nats threatened in the opening frame, as they loaded the bases with two outs against RHP Erich Uelmen (W, 2-0) on two singles and a walk. DH Aldrem Corredor got ahead in the count 3-0 with the bases loaded, but Uelmen battled back and eventually picked up a strikeout. Potomac left eight runners on base overall and went 0-4 with RISP in the loss.
After an escape in the top of the first inning, the Pelicans got to Crownover in their first trip to the plate. SS Aramis Ademan singled with one out. After Crownover retired DH Andruw Monasterio, he got ahead of C Jhonny Pereda 1-2, but on a two-strike pitch, Pereda doubled just down the first base line. The two-out, two-strike hit plated Ademan and made it 1-0 Myrtle Beach.
Both starters settled in and faced just seven total batters over the second and third innings combined, but the Pelicans got another run off of Crownover in the fourth frame. With two outs, Crownover struck out RF Connor Myers, but the outfielder reached base on a wild pitch. Myers then stole second base, and 1B Austin Upshaw made it 2-0 in favor of the Pelicans with a two-out RBI single on batter later.
Following six-shutout innings from Uelmen, Myrtle Beach turned to LHP Manuel Rondon. After a quick first out, Rondon surrendered a solo home run to SS David Masters. Masters’ third home run of the season cut the Potomac deficit to one run, and while 2B Bryan Mejia followed with a single, the P-Nats left the tying run on base. Myrtle Beach took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning stretch.
LHP Jordan Mills entered for Potomac to pitch the home half of the seventh inning, and the All-Star reliever surrendered a pair of runs. 2B Yeiler Peguero reached with a one-out bunt single, and scored one batter later on an RBI triple from CF D.J. Wilson. Ademan followed with an RBI groundout, which put the Pelicans on top 4-1.
After an inning from Rondon, Myrtle Beach turned to RHP Jhon Romero (SV, 5). The right-handed reliever retired all six batters that he faced over the eighth and ninth innings, half via the strikeout. Romero closed out Myrtle Beach’s 4-1 victory.
With four losses in the first six games of their longest road trip of the season, the P-Nats will turn to LHP Nick Raquet (1-0, 6.35) on Sunday. In his Carolina League debut on 6/26, Raquet allowed four runs over 5.2 innings in a victory over the Down East Wood Ducks. Myrtle Beach will look to make it consecutive wins at home, as LHP Bryan Hudson (4-7, 5.83) is set to get the start. Hudson has picked up the loss in each of his last three starts.
First pitch at TicketReturn.com Field on Sunday is set for 6:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 5:50pm 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.
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Chris Graham
