The Potomac Nationals (11-18 Overall, 5-10 Home) were shut out 4-0 in series Game Two by their Northern Division rivals, the Frederick Keys (17-13 Overall, 6-10 Road) on Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium as Keys CF Johnny Ruettiger collected four hits, scored one run, and drove in a trio of run tallies.
The announced capacity crowd of 6,044 witnessed the home loss and made up the first sellout gallery of the 2015 campaign.
The P-Nats have now lost 13 of their last 16 contests and three straight games after being blanked for the second time in 2015.
Potomac was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the affair and left six men on base.
Nationals starting pitcher, RHP John Simms (0-3), the tough luck losing pitcher of record, submitted a quality start after throwing 6.0 stanzas and surrendering two earned runs on four base hits. Simms walked no one and struck out three Keys.
Meanwhile, Keys RHP Jarett Miller (2-0) got the win with 5.0 scoreless innings in which he gave up four base knocks (three singles and a double to P-Nats 3B Drew Ward) while walking three batters and striking out seven.
Frederick plated two runs in the 3rd frame off Simms who served up a leadoff single to left field off the stick of 2B Anthony Caronia before a Ruettiger RBI triple dashed to the right field corner. Keys DH Gregory Lorenzo then lifted a run-scoring sacrifice fly to left field.
The Keys later tagged RHP Jake Johansen for two runs, one earned, on two hits and a pair of errors by SS Stephen Perez and Ward in the 7th inning. Ruettiger ripped a two-run single under the glove of Johansen into center field to bring home C Austin Wynns, who reached on the Perez throwing mistake, and Caronia, who doubled on a line drive up the left field line.
In 2.0 relief innings, Johansen allowed three hits and fanned three Frederick swingers.
Potomac RHP Cody Davis stranded the bases loaded in the 9th without allowing a run by inducing Keys SS Adrian Marin into a flyout to left field.
Frederick RHP Dennis Torres (SV 1) worked the final 4.0 innings out of the Keys bullpen and was perfect over that duration to garner his first save of the year.
The Nationals mustered just four hits including a rifled single off the lumber of CF Isaac Ballou, a pair of bloop singles by DH Christopher Bostick, and the two-bagger that traveled to the left-center field gap by Ward.
With the Keys guaranteed at least a series split after winning the first two games of the series, the Nationals will send LHP Matthew Spann(0-4, 5.87) to the bump tomorrow in Game Three to face off with Frederick LHP Jhonathan Ramos (0-0, 1.93).
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” at 12:50pmbefore the live play-by-play at 1:05pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible atwww.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
A sprawling Mother’s Day event on Sunday at The Pfitz will include a “brunch-nic” with a mimosa bar, wine tasting, fresh fruit and vegetable spread, carved ham, and an “All-American” picnic including hamburgers and hot dogs plus sides.
Fans will be able to upgrade their ticket to the Mother’s Day game for $7 to take part in the P-Nats Brunch-nic. The package upgrade is limited to 300 patrons.
Furthermore, a “diamond dig” will take place after the game in which all women who participate in the Brunch-nic will be invited onto the playing surface at The Pfitz to dig in the infield dirt to find a personalized 2014 Potomac Nationals Mills Cup Championship ring.
Kids will run the bases post-game courtesy of Glory Days Grill.
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