For the second straight night, the Potomac Nationals (45-39, 11-5) fell by one run to the Carolina Mudcats (37-51, 8-10). After losing a two-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday night in a 6-5 loss to the Mudcats, Potomac fell behind 8-3 after 5.5 innings Sunday night, and despite a four-run sixth inning, left the tying run at second base twice in the final third of the game.
The P-Nats got out to an early 2-0 lead against RHP Raymar Navarro (ND). The righty gave up consecutive one-out singles to 2B Max Schrock and SS Osvaldo Abreu before 1B Jose Marmolejos grounded out. With two men in scoring position, LF Alec Keller plated both runners with a two-out single, as Potomac led 2-0 after one inning.
Carolina tied the game in the second inning on three hits and a sacrifice fly. RHP Whit Mayberry (L, 1-1) gave up back-to-back one-out singles to C Sal Giardina and DH Jordan Edgerton. On Edgerton’s bunt base hit, Potomac 3B Bryan Mejia’s throw got past first base, which allowed both runners to get into scoring position. A sacrifice fly by 2B Reed Harper cut the Carolina deficit to one, while a two-out double by LF Joseph Daris tied the game.
In the bottom of the second inning, C Matt Reistetter drew a leadoff walk and took second base on a wild pitch by Navarro. With two outs, Schrock had an RBI single, his second hit of the night. Schrock has a 13-game hit streak and has multiple hits in 11 of the 13 games.
The Mudcats broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning against Mayberry. RF Braxton Davidson drew a leadoff walk and Giardina followed with a two-run home run, his second home run of the season. A single by Edgerton, a walk drawn by Daris, and a single by 3B Erison Mendez loaded the bases with one out. Mayberry got CF Keith Curcio to foul out, but SS Luis Valenzuela cleared the bases with a double down the right field line. Valenzuela’s double made it 7-3. Mayberry allowed seven runs, six earned, over five innings in the loss.
In relief of Mayberry, RHP Trey Lambert allowed a run in the sixth inning. Mendez doubled with one out in the frame and scored on an RBI double by Curcio. Curcio’s lone hit of the night proved to be necessary, as Potomac plated four runs in the bottom of the inning.
After two scoreless innings of relief, RHP Zack Bird (W, 3-1) allowed the first four men to reach base in the sixth inning, all of which eventually scored. RF Drew Vettleson singled, while Mejia and Reistetter walked. With the bases loaded and no outs, DH Austin Davidson tripled into the right field corner, his first hit with Potomac and first three RBIs with the P-Nats. Davidson scored on an RBI groundout by CF Victor Robles, which made it 8-7 Carolina, the eventual final.
RHP Carlos Portuondo walked Vettleson with two outs in the seventh but escaped with a scoreless inning. He returned for the eighth, as Reistetter reached on an error by Valenzuela to start the inning. After Reistetter stole second base, Davidson provided a successful sacrifice bunt, which moved the Potomac catcher to third base. With the infield drawn in, Robles hit a check swing ground ball to 2B Reed Harper, who threw out Reistetter at the plate. Potomac left Robles at second base, as LHP Phil Pfeifer (SV, 2) struck out Schrock and ended the eighth. Pfeifer then set down the side in order in the ninth and secured Carolina’s victory.
With consecutive one-run losses, Potomac will turn to RHP Austen Williams (0-3, 3.90) Monday night in the series finale. Williams allowed just one run on seven hits over six innings in a no-decision vs. Wilmington earlier in the homestand. Opposite the righty, RHP Caleb Beech (2-2, 3.27) is set to start for the Mudcats. Beech picked up a win in his last start, as the righty allowed only one run over 5.2 innings vs. Salem. First pitch is set for 7:05pm Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium.
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