The P-Nats (33-37-Overall, 18-17-Home) picked up two wins, both shutouts, over the Carolina Mudcats (34-35-Overall, 14-19-Road) after Saturday night’s game was suspended 4-0 and 1-0 to win the series three-games-to-one at Pfitzner Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
RHP Reynaldo Lopez made the start for Potomac and cruised through three innings allowing two hits and no runs, he didn’t issue a free pass and struck out five in the outing.
Saturday night’s game was suspended after three innings with a 2-0 lead. Potomac, against RHP Andrew Waszak (4-5, 3.48), went six-up, six-down through two and busted through in the third against the righty. 2B Khayyan Norfork singled and moved to second on DH Jimmy Yezzo’s single. RF Estarlin Martinez hit a fielder’s choice ball on a bunt attempt that had Norfork put out at third base. CF Isaac Ballou then hit a fielder’s choice ball again where Martinez was put out at second base and Yezzo moved to third. 2B Adrian Sanchez then singled in Yezzo for a 1-0 lead. 1B John Wootenthen singled and Ballou came home for a 2-0 lead and then the game went into a rain delay before being suspended. Waszak took the loss and for his three innings allowing four hits and two runs (both earned), he didn’t allowed a walk and he didn’t record a strikeout.
When play resumed on Sunday afternoon RHP Wander Suero (6-2, 2.50) entered the game for Lopez and pitched five scoreless innings recording the win while holding the Mudcats scoreless on just one hit, two walks and struck out three.
RHP Britt Robertshaw came in and Potomac added a run in his first inning of work. With two outs RF Brandon Miller doubled, his 11th two-bagger of the year. After a Norfork walk, DH Jimmy Yezzo singled in Miller for a 3-0 lead. Robertshaw pitched three innings and gave up two hits, the one run on two walks and he struck out six.
In the bottom of the eighth RHP Mauricio Cabrera the P-Nats added their final insurance run. 2B Adrian Sanchez walked and then stole second and third base. Two batters later 3B Drew Ward brought him home with a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the 4-0 P-Nats lead.
RHP Manny Rodriguez came in for the ninth and pitched a one, two, three frame to seal the suspended game shutout victory.
The regularly scheduled game began just after two PM and it featured RHP Tyler Mapes (1-0, 2.12) for Potomac, who had his best outing of the season. Mapes hurled five shutout innings allowing just two hits to Carolina and he struck out two.
Potomac against Carolina’s starter RHP Seth Webster (3-3, 2.79), who lasted 4,2 innings relinquishing six hits and one run (earned) with one strikeout and no walks, scored their lone run in the bottom of the first when SS Stephen Perez singled. LF Isaac Ballou singled behind Perez moving him to second base and after a Miller flyout, Ward picked up his 29th RBI with a single driving in Perez for a 1-0 P-Nats lead.
LHP Matt Marskberry came in relief of Webster and pitched an inning and a third scoreless to finish the game for Carolina. He was perfect with two strikeouts.
RHP Justin Amlung, who made his Carolina League debut, and pitched a perfect sixth followed by LHP Nick Lee (8 SV) facing just three in the top of the seventh to close the 1-0 win for Potomac.
Potomac wrapped up the first-half of the 2015 season at 33-37 and earned their sixth and seventh shutout wins of the year.
With the back-to-back shutout victories Potomac has now gone 20.2 scoreless innings to end the series against Carolina. The streak is a new consecutive scoreless streak for Potomac in 2015.
The Carolina League now pauses for the All-Star break and Potomac will resume play to begin the second-half in Wilmington against the Northern Division Champion Blue Rocks.
First Pitch from Wilmington is set for 6:35 pm and you can listen live via the TuneIn Radio App or at www.potomacnationals.com starting at 6:20 pm.
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