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Rain delay doesn’t stop Potomac in 5-3 win

p-natsA three-hour game, paired with a 90-minute rain delay resulted in the longest night of the season for the Potomac Nationals (41-36, 7-2), but a 5-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (41-40, 5-6) earned the club a series split at TicketReturn.com Field. Potomac RHP Erick Fedde (ND) had another start impacted by the rain, as the righty pitched just one inning before the rain arrived. Myrtle Beach RHP Trevor Clifton (L, 4-5) likewise only went one inning, but the righty gave up two runs in the first inning in route to the loss.

Though his five-game multi-hit streak ended, Potomac 2B Max Schrock picked up a hit for the sixth consecutive game, as the second baseman had a one-out double in the first inning against Clifton. 1B Jose Marmolejos followed with an RBI single, which put Potomac ahead 1-0, a lead the team did not relinquish. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Clifton allowed Marmolejos to advance to second base, while a bloop double down the right field line by LF Alec Keller plated Marmolejos and made it 2-0. After Fedde struck out two in a scoreless first frame, the skies opened and the teams endured a 90-minute delay.

Once the field became playable, both starting pitchers were done and it turned into a battle of the bullpens. RHP James Pugliese worked a perfect second inning for Myrtle Beach, while the Pelicans cut the deficit in half with a run on three straight singles vs. RHP Tommy Peterson in the bottom of the frame.

The P-Nats added the eventual winning run in the third, as they scored two, both unearned, against Pugliese. Schrock drew a leadoff walk, while Marmolejos followed with his second single of the night. C Raudy Readgrounded out to first baseman Yasiel Balaguert, but Balaguert’s throw to second base sailed past SS Gleyber Torres, which allowed Schrock to score. Keller followed with an RBI groundout, which made it 4-1. Keller’s 43rd RBI of the season ended up as the winning run.

Peterson, who allowed his first run of the season in the second inning, allowed two more runs in the third. CF Rashad Crawford drew a one-out walk, while Torres followed with a single. Peterson then walked DH Ian Rice, which loaded the bases. 3B Jason Vosler made it a one-run game with a two-run single, but the Pelicans left the tying run at second base. Potomac led 4-3 after three innings.

Neither side scored over the next four innings, as RHP Gilberto Mendez (W, 1-0) got the final two outs in the third and then allowed just two hits over the next four-shutout innings. In his longest outing of the season, Mendez struck out four and did not walk a batter. Pugliese pitched through the fifth inning and turned the ball over to LHP Tommy Thorpe. Thorpe did not allow a run in the sixth or seventh inning, but surrendered a two-out solo home run to DH Drew Vettleson in the eighth, which made it 5-3 Potomac, the eventual final.

In relief of Mendez, LHP RC Orlan (SV, 9) pitched a perfect eighth inning but ran into command trouble in the ninth inning. Orlan walked pinch-hitter Jeffrey Baez to start the inning, and then walked LF Charcer Burks with one out. With the tying runs on base, Crawford grounded into a fielder’s choice out at second base, while Orlan struck out Torres on a high fastball, which ended the game, as Potomac split the series with a 5-3 win.

Returning back home, the P-Nats are set to begin their longest homestand of the season Monday night. LHP Matthew Crownover (0-2, 5.33) is set to start for Potomac. Crownover has allowed two earned runs in each of his last three starts for the P-Nats. Opposite the lefty, RHP Corey Ray (4-2, 3.79) will make the start for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Ray has won three straight starts. It will be the first meeting between Potomac and Wilmington since April 30th. The teams met 14 times in April, 11 of the games went to Potomac. First pitch at Pfitzner Stadium is set for 6:35pm.

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage beginning with the “P-Nats Leadoff Show” at6:20pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is available atwww.potomacnationals.com or via the TuneIn Radio App.

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