P-Nats drop rubber match with Astros, 4-3

For the second time in three days, the Buies Creek Astros (32-24) picked up a one-run victory over the Potomac Nationals (27-25). Courtesy of a two-out, two-run single from 2B Alfedo Angarita in the fifth inning, the Astros took the rubber match of the three-game series 4-3. RHP Joan Baez (L, 2-4) tossed a season-high seven innings, but allowed three of the four leadoff base runners against him to come around to score. RHP Gabriel Valdez (W, 2-2) allowed three unearned runs over five innings in the victory.

The Astros struck first for the first time in the series, as LF J.J. Matijevic led off the home half of the second inning with a single. After a stolen base and a groundout, Matijevic scored on an RBI single by DH Luis Payano.

The lead for Buies Creek last just a half an inning, as the P-Nats put up three runs in the top of the third. 2B David Masters reached on a throwing error by SS Kristian Trompiz to begin the frame, while Valdez hit 3B Branden Boggetto with a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt from DH Edwin Lora, CF Blake Perkins struck out. With two outs, SS Carter Kieboom put a 1-1 fastball deep over the left field wall for a three-run home run. Kieboom’s second home run in as many games put Potomac on top 3-1, though Potomac didn’t score the rest of the way.

Buies Creek chipped away at Potomac lead with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by Matijevic, while Baez then allowed a leadoff single to Payano in the home half of the fifth frame. The Potomac starter retired the next two hitters, but surrendered a two-strike hit to Trompiz, which put Payano at third base, while a throwing error on RF Rhett Wiseman allowed Trompiz to get to second base. Angarita followed with a two-out, two-run single to centerfield, which made it 4-3 Buies Creek, the eventual final.

Out of the Astros’ bullpen, RHP Brandon Bielak (SV, 2) allowed just two hits and struck out six over four-shutout innings. Potomac got consecutive two-out singles in the sixth inning, but had a runner thrown out at third base. The P-Nats then got the tying man on in the eighth frame, as Kieboom walked with two outs, but Bielak retired the final four batters of the game, as he secured Buies Creek’s series victory.

Off of a 1-4 road trip, Potomac will head into the league-wide off day with a 0.5 game lead over the Lynchburg Hillcats in the Northern Division playoff race. The P-Nats will return home for a brief three-game homestand against the Frederick Keys.

First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Tuesday night is set for 7:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:50pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.