Without two of the top hitters thus far in the Carolina League in the lineup, the Potomac Nationals (20-14) set a new season high in runs, hits, and home runs, in a 14-3 victory over the Frederick Keys (14-20). Without Juan Soto (promotion), and Telmito Agustin, Potomac tallied hit five home runs and notched 18 hits.
RF Rhett Wiseman hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run shot in the eighth frame, 1B Jake Noll hit a solo shot in the fifth inning and did the same in the eighth, while SS Carter Kieboom hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Potomac scored the first four runs of the game, and 10 of the final 12.
Though RHP Jhon Peluffo (L, 2-1) didn’t allow a run in the first three innings, the P-Nats threatened in each frame. Potomac left runners on the corners in the first inning, a man on in the second frame, and two more on base in the third.
Peluffo didn’t fare as well once the game hit the fourth frame, as Wiseman led off the inning with a home run. Later in the inning, CF Blake Perkins and Kieboom each had an RBI single, as Potomac led 3-1 after 2.5 innings. Noll then led off the fourth inning with the first of his two home runs. Peluffo allowed four runs on eight hits over five frames.
The Keys plated their lone run of the night against RHP Kyle McGowin (W, 1-1) on a solo home run from 1B Wilson Garcia in the fifth inning. McGowin struck out seven, allowed only four hits, and did not walk a batter over seven innings.
Potomac began to put the game away with a pair of runs against RHP Steven Klimek in the sixth inning. With two men on and two outs, LF Ian Sagdal made it 6-1 with a two-run double off the left field wall. The score remained 6-1 until the eighth inning.
A five-run eighth frame was the final nail in the night for the Keys, as the P-Nats hit three home runs in the inning. Kieboom’s one-out, two-run blast made it 8-1, Noll’s second solo home run of the game made it 9-1, and Wiseman’s two-run shot made it 11-1. The final two home runs in the inning came off of RHP Francisco Jimenez. Jimenez then gave up three runs in the ninth, two on a single by Kieboom, and one on a single by Noll.
After seven frames from McGowin, LHP Taylor Guilbeau pitched the final two innings for Potomac. Guilbeau gave up an unearned run in the eighth inning, and then walked in a run in the ninth.
In the victory, five different P-Nats had at least three hits, while Noll led the way with four. Kieboom matched a career high with 5 RBIs. Thursday night was the first multi-home run game of the season for both Wiseman and Noll.
In game two of the series on Friday night, Potomac will turn to RHP Wil Crowe (5-0, 2.76). The P-Nats are 6-0 in games in which Crowe has pitched. In his lone start of the year vs. Frederick, Crowe allowed one run over five innings. For the Keys, LHP Alex Wells (0-3, 4.22) will make his first start of the season vs. Potomac. In four of his first six starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs.
First pitch at Nymeo Field on Friday night is set for 7:00pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:45pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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