In their first game since they were swept in a four-game series on the road, the Potomac Nationals (41-39, 4-9) scored more runs in a 7-1 victory over the Salem Red Sox (38-43, 6-7) on Wednesday night than they did in the five-game losing streak that they snapped with the victory. Potomac used three hits from DH Aldrem Corredor, three RBIs from C Tres Barrera, and an eighth inning home run from RF Rhett Wiseman in the victory.
Off of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, which saw the Pelicans outscore the P-Nats 18-2, Potomac fell into an early 1-0 hole on Wednesday night. RHP Matthew DeRosier (ND) walked DH Denier Lopez two batters into the game, and after a single from 2B Brett Netzer, 3B Bobby Dalbec made it 1-0 in favor of Salem with a sacrifice fly. Dalbec’s league-leading 61st RBI of the year gave Salem it’s lone lead of the night, and he followed it up with a double in the fourth inning, the second of Salem’s two hits in the loss.
Despite the early deficit, the P-Nats responded immediately against All-Star RHP Daniel Gonzalez (L, 7-2). Potomac put up three runs in the home half of the first inning, while the Sox never truly threatened to get back into the game. Barrera doubled home 2B Bryan Mejia and SS Luis Garcia with one out, while Corredor followed with an RBI double of his own. Potomac led 3-1 after one inning.
Potomac increased the lead to 4-1 on Barrera’s solo home run in the third inning, which was the final time either team scored until the home half of the eighth frame. Gonzalez allowed four runs on six hits in five innings.
DeRosier, in his first start at home, departed with an apparent injury with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. The right-handed starter allowed one run on two hits in a no-decision.
Both teams had to get extended time out of the bullpen, as RHP Jeremy McKinney (W, 2-2) tossed 2.1 innings of no-hit relief for the P-Nats, while neither RHP Jorge Pantoja, two innings, nor LHP Jordan Mills, one inning, surrendered a hit for Potomac. For the Red Sox, RHP Harrison Cooney struck out five batters over two perfect frames, while RHP Hunter Smith surrendered three runs in the eighth inning.
Already on top 4-1 and three defensive outs from a victory, the P-Nats put the game away with a three-run eighth frame. 3B Ian Sagdal led off the inning with a double, and then scored two batters later on Corredor’s third hit of the night. After Smith picked up a strikeout, Wiseman launched a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right-centerfield for a two-run home run. Wiseman’s team-leading 15th home run of the year made it 7-1 Potomac, the eventual final.
Off of the victory, the P-Nats will aim to make it consecutive wins over the Red Sox, as LHP Matthew Crownover (3-7, 5.10) will start for Potomac on Thursday. Crownover has three straight quality starts, but has recorded the loss in all three outings. For the Red Sox, RHP Bryan Mata (4-2, 2.95) will look to even the series. Mata has allowed no more than one earned run in any of his last four starts.
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Thursday 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, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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