A nearly 90-minute rain delay led into the longest game of the season for the Potomac Nationals (25-20), as the Winston-Salem Dash (27-22) picked up a 4-2 win in 11 innings. A delay of 1:25 due to rain prior to the game, paired with a matchup that took 3:55 to play, led to the longest night of the season for both teams.
Though neither starter factored in the decision, both RHP Sterling Sharp (ND) and LHP Bernardo Flores (ND) put together great outings for Potomac and Winston-Salem respectively. Sharp allowed two runs, one earned, over 6.2 innings, but saw his final pitch of the night lead to a tie game, while Flores allowed two runs over six innings.
In regulation, Potomac used two separate one-run frames, but saw the Dash counter in the following half inning both times. RF Rhett Wiseman put Potomac on top 1-0 with an RBI single in the second inning, while the Dash saw 2B Ti’Quan Forbes score on a passed ball charged to C Tres Barrera in the top of the third inning. In the sixth frame, three straight one-out hits got Potomac on top 2-1, but Sharp surrendered consecutive two-out hits to Forbes and SS Yeyson Yrizarri. Yrizarri’s RBI double came on Sharp’s final pitch of the night, as Sharp matched his longest outing of the season.
The P-Nats left the go-ahead run at second base in the eighth inning against RHP Drew Hasler, and the winning run on first base in the ninth inning against RHP Mike Morrison (W, 4-1).
As the game went into extra innings tied 2-2, RHP Jeremy McKinney (L, 0-1) worked around the free baserunner and stranded the go-ahead run at third base in the top of the 10th. In the home half of the inning, 2B Edwin Lora pinch ran at second base as the free baserunner, while the Dash then intentionally walked CF Blake Perkins. With the winning run in scoring position, and a chance for a second walk-off win in less than a week, Potomac saw the heart of the order go down, as SS Carter Kieboom struck out looking, LF Alec Keller struck out swinging, while DH Jake Noll flied out to left field.
Still tied at 2-2, the Dash put together a two-run 11th inning. 3B Zach Remillard began the inning at second base as the free baserunner, and on a bunt to the pitcher by CF Luis Alexander Basabe, McKinney threw the ball away over first base. Basabe got credited with a single, while the error on McKinney allowed the go-ahead run to score. The Dash then loaded the bases on a walk and bunt single, which brought LHP Taylor Guilbeau into the game. The left-handed reliever’s first pitch went to the backstop, as the wild pitch brought home a run and put the Dash ahead 4-2. After Guilbeau struck out 1B Gavin Sheets for the second out of the inning, LF Alex Call tried to steal home with C Yermin Mercedes at the plate. Guilbeau threw out Call at the plate, and sent the game to the home half of the 11th, with Potomac down by two runs.
RHP Yelmison Peralta (SV, 1) came on for the Dash, and despite a single by Wiseman, which brought the winning run to the plate. Potomac left the tying runs on base, as Peralta struck out the side.
With a quick turnaround to the third game of the series, the teams will take the field Sunday afternoon. RHP Wil Crowe (5-0, 2.89) is set to make the start for Potomac. Crowe has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his last five starts. For the Dash, RHP Jimmy Lambert (3-4, 4.06) will look to make it four straight wins for the Dash. Lambert has tallied a loss in each of his last two starts.
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Sunday afternoon is set for 1:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 12:50pm 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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