Following a torrid stretch to end June, the Potomac Nationals (40-36, 6-2) have gotten off to a rocky start in July, as they dropped their second straight matchup to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (41-39, 5-5). Despite a lead after the top of the first inning and the top of the second inning, the P-Nats were unable to overcome Myrtle Beach’s six-run third frame, as Potomac fell 11-9 Saturday night.
In their first game against RHP Jake Stinnett (W, 7-3), the P-Nats scored in each of the first two innings. CF Victor Robles led off the game with a single and later scored in the inning on a sacrifice fly by 1B Jose Marmolejos. With two outs and SS Osvaldo Abreu at second base, C Raudy Read singled to left field, but LF Charcer Burks threw out Read at the plate.
For the third time this season, RHP Luis Reyes (L, 4-8) made a start against Myrtle Beach, and for the third time, Reyes struggled and picked up the eventual loss. Reyes, who entered with an ERA of 16.20 in two starts vs. the Pelicans, gave up an unearned run in the first inning, as his throwing error allowed the leadoff hitting Burks to reach base, then score on an RBI double by CF Rashad Crawford. The Pelicans left Crawford at third base, as the game was tied at one after one inning.
Potomac took its second and final lead of the night with two runs in the second inning. Stinnett, who had not allowed an earned run in either of his past two starts, quickly struck out the first two batters of the inning, but then issued a two-out walk to LF Dale Carey. 3B Khayyan Norfork followed with a single, and Robles plated both men with a double, his first extra base hit and first two RBIs with Potomac this season. Potomac led 3-1 after 1.5 innings.
The Pelicans answered right back with two more unearned runs against Reyes in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, 2B David Bote singled and RF Jeffrey Baez walked. A fly out by DH Daniel Spingola moved Bote to third base. With Burks at the plate, Baez stole second base, while the throw from Read got passed Potomac 2B Max Schrock. The error went to the Schrock and allowed Bote to score. Burks then reached on a fielding error by Norfork at third base, which plated Baez and tied the game at three.
Stinnett finally put together a scoreless inning in the third, while the Myrtle Beach offense kept on going. The Pelicans sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the third inning, as Reyes recorded just one out in the frame. The right-handed starter loaded the bases on a single and two walks with no outs. 1B Yasiel Balaguert made it 4-3 Myrtle Beach with an RBI single, while Bote made it 5-3 with an RBI single of his own. After Baez struck out, Reyes walked Spingola on four pitches, which brought home Myrtle Beach’s sixth run of the night. Potomac went to the bullpen, as LHP Matthew Spann entered and gave up a two-run single to Burks, which made it 8-3, while an RBI groundout by Crawford capped off the inning at six runs and made it 9-3 Myrtle Beach. Reyes went just 2.1 innings and allowed nine runs, six earned. The Potomac starter is now 0-3 with an 18.00 ERA in three starts vs. the Pelicans.
Down 11-3 after five innings following a home run by C Ian Rice, Potomac battled back and got within striking distance, as Stinnett failed to get through six innings. Potomac sent nine men to the plate in a five-run sixth inning and cut the deficit to three. With two men on and two outs, Norfork had an RBI single, which made it 11-4. RHP Michael Wagner entered for Stinnett and immediately walked Robles. Schrock, who doubled in the fifth, had his second hit of the night, a two-run single that cut the deficit to five. Abreu followed with a two-run double, which plated Robles and Schrock and made it 11-8, but he was left at third base. Stinnett allowed six earned runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings in the win.
The P-Nats plated another run with two-outs in the seventh inning, as Carey had his lone hit of the night, which plated DH Alec Keller against Wagner. Wagner retired only four hitters, gave up four hits, walked one, struck out two, and allowed his first three runs of the season.
Down by two runs in the eighth, Potomac got the tying men in scoring position with two outs. Robles began the inning against LHP Jordan Minch with a single, while Marmolejos drew a two-out walk. A wild pitch by Minch put the runners at second and third base, but Read grounded out to 3B Jason Vosler and ended the inning. Minch then recorded the first two outs in the ninth, while Ryan McNeil (SV, 10) came in and retired Carey to end the game.
For the second straight night, all nine Myrtle Beach starters reached base at least once. Seven of Potomac’s starters each had at least one hit, while Robles had his first three-hit game with the P-Nats and Schrock had his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. Potomac lost despite tallying 12 hits to Myrtle Beach’s 10. In the loss, PotomacRHP Trey Lambert tossed three shutout innings.
Looking to salvage a series split, Potomac will turn to RHP Erick Fedde (4-3, 4.50) Sunday night. Fedde has allowed just two total earned runs over his last four starts and is 1-0 with 3.60 ERA in two starts vs. the Pelicans. Opposite Fedde, RHP Trevor Clifton (4-4, 2.66) will make his third start of the season vs. Potomac. Clifton is 1-0 and has not allowed a run over 8.1 innings vs. the P-Nats this season. First pitch Sunday night is set for6:05pm.
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