While the Potomac Nationals (52-48, 15-18) lost a five-run advantage in the middle portion of Friday night’s matchup vs. the Carolina Mudcats (53-51, 19-15), CF Jack Sundberg played a part in both runs of a two-run eighth inning in Potomac’s 8-6 victory. Sundberg’s RBI single gave Potomac a 7-6 lead, while the outfielder then scored from second base on a wild pitch to cap off the night’s scoring.
The offense for Potomac jumped out to a quick start against RHP Devin Williams (ND), as the P-Nats put four runs on the board over the first two innings. RF Rhett Wiseman gave Potomac an early 2-0 lead with a two-run, two-out single in the opening frame, while a sacrifice fly from LF Telmito Agustin and an RBI single from Sundberg made it consecutive two run innings to begin the night. Williams allowed four runs on five hits over three innings.
RHP Wil Crowe (ND) entered the series opener vs. Carolina tied for the league lead in victories (10), and seemed well on his way to his 11th, as he allowed just one run over his first five innings. Carolina scored on a sacrifice fly from C Mario Feliciano in the top of the second inning, but then went scoreless until the sixth inning.
Potomac added a run in both the fourth and fifth frames against RHP Nathan Kirby, and took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning, when Carolina put up a five-run frame and tied the game. Crowe loaded the bases on two walks and a HBP, and departed for RHP Carlos Acevedo with the bases full and two outs. Acevedo quickly allowed all three inherited runners to score, as DH Cooper Hummel made it a two-run game with a three-run double, while Feliciano tied the game one batter later with a two-run home run. Crowe was charged with four runs on just two hits over 5.2 innings.
The score stayed even at 6-6 until the home half of the eighth inning, as RHP Nattino Diplan (L, 5-3) worked his second inning out of the bullpen. After a perfect seventh frame, Diplan issued a leadoff walk to Agustin in the eighth inning. A sacrifice bunt from C Jakson Reetz advanced Agustin to second base, and Sundberg put the P-Nats on top with an RBI single to shallow centerfield. Just a few pitches later, Diplan unleashed a pitch to the backstop and then failed to cover the plate, which allowed Sundberg to score from second base on a wild pitch. The P-Nats led 8-6 after eight innings.
While Acevedo got the final out in the sixth inning and the first out in the seventh frame, back-to-back one-out singles knocked the right-handed reliever out of the game. RHP Steven Fuentes (W, 2-1) entered, and while a fly ball from 2B Dallas Carroll put the potential go-ahead run on third base, the righty struck out CF Demi Orimoloye and ended the frame. Fuentes then worked a perfect eighth inning, and faced the minimum in the ninth frame, as Reetz caught pinch runner Nick Roscetti stealing at second base to end the game.
Off a win in the first matchup of the season series, Potomac will turn to LHP Ben Braymer (5-3, 3.16) on Saturday night. Braymer has picked up the win in each of his last two starts, both six-inning quality outings. For the Mudcats, RHP Braden Webb (5-7, 3.91) will aim to even the series. Webb is winless in his last five starts.
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Saturday is set for 6:35pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:20pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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