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Potomac Nationals top Lynchburg Hillcats, 6-2, in series opener

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potomac nationalsThe Potomac Nationals (13-8, 6-4) rolled over the Lynchburg Hillcats (9-13, 5-6) on Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium to take a 6-2 win in the series opener. The P-Nats used nine hits and played perfect defense to triple up the Hillcats.

With the biggest hit of the game, P-Nats LF Randolph Oduber lined the go-ahead two-run single into left field in the 5th inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Potomac is now (5-3) head-to-head with the Lynchburg Hillcats during the 2014 season.

The Nationals are the only club in the Northern Division who own a record over the .500 mark.

Potomac RHP Ronald Pena (2-0) was the winning pitcher after gunning through 5.1 innings which served as the longest outing hurled by a Potomac Nationals starting pitcher in 2014.

Pena allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out one without walking a batter.

Conversely, Lynchburg RHP Lucas Sims (1-3), the losing pitcher of record, got hit to the tune of three earned runs on five hits. Sims walked three and fanned a trio.

The first run of the game belonged to Lynchburg as LF Alejandro Piloto blasted a triple over the head of CF Narciso Mesa in the 3rd inning. Piloto was plated on an RBI single blooped into shallow left center field by 2B Jose Peraza.

The Nationals answered off Sims in the 5th frame with three runs to take a 3-1 edge as a light rain began to fall. 3B Adrian Sanchezpunched an RBI single through the right side that scored SS Stephen Perez, who reached on a walk. Oduber sliced a two-run single that brought in C Cole Leonida, who walked behind Perez, and Sanchez.

The Nationals put up three more runs in the last of the 8th against RHP Zach Jadofsky via a two-run home run rocket over everything in left field off the stick of RF Brandon Miller which left the yard in less than four seconds followed by an RBI double socked off the left field wall by Leonida.

Potomac RHP Brian Rauh was stellar in relief going 2.2 innings and allowing one earned run without allowing a base hit.

The only other run for the Hillcats came in when RF Will Skinner dribbled a run-scoring single through the hole at shortstop.

Nationals LHP Bryan Harper got two outs in the 9th on a 5-4-3 double play ball and RHP Gilberto Mendez got the final out of the game on one pitch to 1B Edison Sanchez who flew out to the warning track in left field. Oduber clutched the baseball to complete the Nationals’ Game One triumph.

Washington Nationals RHP Doug Fister will make a rehabilitation appearance tomorrow and is scheduled to throw 4.0 innings or 60 pitches.

Fister, who is nursing a right lat strain, is opposing Lynchburg RHP Greg Ross (1-1, 2.84).

Kids Eat Free Sunday is presented by: Little Caesars Team Dumfries & Haymarket in which all kids 12 and under get a free Little Caesars pizza slice. Kids Race the Bases sponsored by: Glory Days Grill and Tennis Ball Toss will follow the game.

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, which is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com, will broadcast Game Two on Sundayafternoon beginning with the P-Nats Leadoff Show at 12:50pm before the live play-by-play at 1:05pm.

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