Potomac Nationals blank Salem Red Sox, 3-0

Three Potomac Nationals pitchers limited the Salem Red Sox to three hits and a three-run second inning was the difference on Sunday night at LewisGale Field, as Potomac shut out Salem 3-0 to secure a series victory.

Every run in the game scored in the second inning. Kevin McAvoy allowed the first three Nationals to single, as Grant DeBruin, Drew Ward and Alec Keller loaded the bases with nobody out. DeBruin was retired on a force play at home, which called up Craig Manuel with one out. Manuel chopped a grounder to first base that Mario Martinez fielded and flung to second for an out. Maurico Dubon received the throw and delivered it back to first where McAvoy was covering. McAvoy dropped the ball, allowing Manuel to reach and Ward to score from third.

Two batters later, Rafael Bautista sent a bases-loaded single to left field, scoring Keller and Manuel and extending the lead to 3-0. McAvoy was charged with an error on the catch of the potential double play ball, so all three runs went into the books unearned.

Salem threatened only once, as it loaded the bases in the bottom of the third. Carlos Coste struck out to lead off the inning, but reached on the play thanks to a wild pitch on the third strike. Dubon followed with a bunt single and Kevin Heller worked a two-out walk. All three men were stranded on the basepaths, though, as Dustin Lawley struck out to end the threat and the inning.

Ian Dickson (1-0) was effectively wild in his second start of the season, walking three and hitting two batters with five strikeouts, but allowed only one hit in 5.1 innings pitched. Salem brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth against Brian Dupra, but Yoilan Cerse bounced into a game-ending double play to hand Dupra his fourth save.

McAvoy (5-9) pitched into the seventh inning, giving up three unearned runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work, his second-longest start of the year.

The Red Sox managed only three hits in the loss, with all three not leaving the infield. Dubon accounted for a pair while Cole Sturgeon reached on an infield knock in the last of the ninth.

Potomac secured the win in the three-game series and improved to 47-52 and 14-15 in the second half while Salem fell to 51-50 and 13-18. The series and the homestand conclude Monday night at 7:05 p.m.with Salem’s Daniel McGrath (1-3, 3.02) opposing Potomac’s Tyler Mapes (1-2, 3.00). Fans unable to attend can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.