The Potomac Nationals (11-16 Overall, 5-8 Home) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory in Game One of a doubleheader versus the Wilmington Blue Rocks (14-12 Overall, 5-7 Road) on Thursday evening but fell 3-1 in the nightcap of the twin bill at Pfitzner Stadium.
Number three overall prospect in the Washington Nationals’ farm system per Baseball America, RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-0) was electric in his Carolina League debut during the frontend matchup.
Lopez was perfect through 2.2 innings before allowing a single to Wilmington RF Dexter Kjerstad in the 3rd inning.
The righty flamethrower allowed just a pair of singles in 5.0 scoreless innings while walking no one and striking out three batters on the way to his first P-Nats’ victory.
Lopez threw 54 pitches and 37 offerings were in the zone.
The 21-year-old topped out at 98 miles per hour and received a game score (per metric devised by Sabermetrician, Bill James) of 66.
The Nationals supported Lopez with one run in the opening frame courtesy of a one-out walk issued by the eventual losing pitcher of record, Blue Rocks LHP Luis Rico (2-1), to SS Stephen Perez before the switch-hitter stole two bases and was driven home by1B John Wooten on an RBI single back up the middle.
Rico dealt 5.0 frames and allowed one earned run on three hits while walking three men, fanning two, and hitting a batter.
The Nationals added an insurance run to garner a 2-0 lead in the 6th inning when 2B Christopher Bostick gashed an RBI triple to center field off Wilmington RHP Matt Alvarez.
Alvarez allowed that one earned run on two hits.
Potomac RHP Dakota Bacus (SV 3) took the ball in the 6th stanza and fanned LF Daniel Rockett and Kjerstad before DH Ramon Torres swept a 6-3 groundout.
Proceedings got scary for Bacus in the 9th as a leadoff double from SS Jack Lopez into right-center field led to a single from 3B Mauricio Ramos flared into right before an RBI double ripped to the left field corner off the stick of C Zane Evans. Blue Rocks CF Dominique Taylor then cranked a hard groundball to 3B Drew Ward which was handled and rifled to first base for the first out. Bacus intentionally walked 1B Robert Pehl to load the bags and set up a double play at every base including home. Blue Rocks 2B Kenny Diekroeger then struck out swinging for the third time in the contest. Bacus then induced Rockett into a fielder’s choice groundball that cut down Pehl at the second base bag to seal the Nationals’ first victory since their April 30th win on the road against the Winston-Salem Dash, and also his third save in as many save opportunities this season.
The Nationals are six-for-six in save chances in 2015.
In the nightcap, Washington Nationals RHP Casey Janssen, on rehab with right shoulder tendinitis, pitched the first inning as the starter.
Janssen tossed nine pitches and all were for strikes as the eight-year veteran sat down Torres on a flyout to center field, Lopez on a skyout to left field, and C Frank Schwindel on a strikeout looking.
Janssen said after his rehab appearance to the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, “I feel pretty good. Tonight was good just to continue to build my arm strength and to get my arm moving faster. I take it as a good step and one in the right direction and [I’m] looking forward to how I feel tomorrow and of course, [I’ll] be back here Sunday to pitch again.”
Nationals RHP Nick Pivetta piggybacked the rehab start of Janssen and in total, allowed three unearned runs in technically 6.0 relief innings, while scattering eight singles and surrendering one walk and three strikeouts.
Wilmington tagged Pivetta for the three runs in the 4th inning via an RBI walk worked by Pehl and a two-run single ripped into right field. An errant throw by Potomac C Craig Manuel made the runs not earned to Pivetta.
Blue Rocks RHP Yender Caramo (1-1), the winning pitcher, was on point through 6.0 innings on the mound. Caramo allowed one earned run on four hits without walking a batter and he struck out one man.
The P-Nats’ lone run was plated in the 4th on the combination of a leadoff double cranked to the right field wall by CF Isaac Ballou and a run-scoring single off the bat of Perez.
Blue Rocks LHP Nick Green (1 SV) sat the Nationals down one-two-three in the 9th inning to finish the game and seal the visiting club their 3-1 triumph as well as his first save of the current campaign in his first save chance.
The P-Nats host the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles) for a four-game series tomorrow night (Friday) through Monday, May 11th.
First pitch for Game One at Pfitzner Stadium on Friday evening is set for 7:05pm. Gates to The Pfitz will swing open at 6:00pm.
In Game One, RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 0.00) will make his much anticipated Potomac Nationals’ Carolina League debut against Frederick LHP Luis Gonzalez (1-2, 5.64).
Giolito is the unanimous number one overall prospect in the Washington Nationals’ Minor League organization.
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” at6:50pm before the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
The first 2,000 fans who enter Pfitzner Stadium tomorrow night will receive a limited edition official Lucas Giolito Potomac Nationals player card that are numbered from one to 2,000.
Kids will run the bases post-game courtesy of Glory Days Grill.
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