Timely hitting guides Potomac Nationals past Wood Ducks

It was a full team effort for the Potomac Nationals on Monday night, as the P-Nats (3-2) received base hits from every member of the starting lineup in a 9-3 victory over the Down East Wood Ducks (2-3).

The P-Nats continued their early-inning offensive success, putting up three runs in their first trip to the plate. DH Austin Davidson opened up the scoring with his team-leading fifth RBI, driving in SS Carter Kieboom after he advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third, his first swipe of the year. Two more runs scored following an RBI single from C Jakson Reetz. The infield single from Reetz scored one run on the play, but Davidson came around to score on an error from Down East 3B Charles Leblanc on his throw across the diamond.

The lead wouldn’t last for long, as the Wood Ducks matched the P-Nats with a three-run inning of their own in the second. C Alex Kowalczyk ended the brief shutout with a solo home run to centerfield, his first of the season. After Leblanc walked and RF Preston Scott singled to right field, 1B Andretty Cordero slapped the first pitch of his at-bat to right field to make it a one-run game. Two batters later, 2B Edwin Lora fielded a Leody Taveras ground ball but launched the throw wide of first base, allowing Scott to score to tie the game.

After exchanging scoreless frames, the Nationals struck for three more runs in the bottom of the third. After reaching on an error, 1B Ian Sagdal came around to score all the way from first on an RBI triple from 3B Jake Noll. Austin Davidson walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting the stage for a two-run single off the bat of RF Rhett Wiseman. RHP Walker Weickel (L, 0-1) didn’t make it out of the inning, only lasting 2.1 innings in his Carolina League debut.

RHP Wil Crowe (W, 1-0) took advantage of the lead, only allowing one more run, an RBI double from Taveras, in the fifth inning. In total, Crowe set new career-highs with 5.0 innings of work and eight strikeouts.

With the lead well in hand, the P-Nats offense added three more runs for good measure in the eighth. Lora drove in his first two runs of the year with a two-run single and Kieboom added an RBI groundout to cap off the scoring for the night.

In total, the Potomac offense was 5-for-11 on the day with runners in scoring position.

The bullpen was sharp for the final four innings, with RHP James Bourque and LHP Jordan Mills each throwing two scoreless frames to secure the victory.

First pitch on Tuesday night is set for 7:05pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:50pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.