The Potomac Nationals (45-51 Overall, 25-25 Home, 12-14 Second Half) suffered a late two-run tie-breaking rally in the 9th inning by the Frederick Keys (47-51 Overall, 22-28 Road, 15-13 Second Half) at Pfitzner Stadium on Thursday night to lose 3-1 in series Game Two of a three-game set.
The Keys took the set with the triumph and improved their head-to-head record vs. the P-Nats to (11-7) courtesy of a go-ahead run on a wild pitch from Nationals RHP Manny Rodriguez (1-2) and a sacrifice safety squeeze RBI bunt by Frederick 3B Tanner Witt in the 9th inning that broke up a 1-1 tie. Rodriguez lost his second decision on the year.
The quality start from P-Nats RHP Lucas Giolito which resulted in a no-decision was wasted. The Nationals as a club submitted just one run on four base knocks in the contest which disallowed Giolito a chance to win his fourth decision of the 2015 season.
Potomac went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.
Giolito gunned through 6.0 innings and surrendered only one earned run on five hits. The number one overall prospect in baseball per MLBPipeline.com walked two, fanned six, unleashed one wild pitch, and allowed his first home run of the ’15 campaign.
Like Giolito, Keys RHP David Hess turned in a “by-definition” quality outing with a very similar pitching line to that of his adversary but still received the same no-decision fate. Hess also went 6.0 stanzas and gave up one earned run (one run for each hurler), walked two, struck out six, and let go of a wild offering. The P-Nats earned just three hits off Hess.
The 2014 South Atlantic League Batting Champion, Keys C Chance Sisco lined the inaugural Carolina League home run off Giolito over the left field fence with no one on board in the top of the 1st frame.
Zeroes were on the scoreboard from the 2nd to the 4th frames before the P-Nats tied the game at 1-1 via an RBI double gashed to right field by LF Alec Keller in the 5th. Keller’s two-bagger plated the leadoff walk issued by Hess to NationalsSS Stephen Perez.
A 1-1 knot would remain until the two-run 9th for the Black and Orange but in the meantime, Nationals RHP Justin Amlung slung a pair of scoreless innings in relief of Giolito.
Frederick LHP Donnie Hart (4-0), who won his fourth victory, hurled a duo of no-run innings. Hart’s line included one hit, no walks, and one strikeout.
The Nationals got 2B Khayyan Norfork aboard to begin the 8th on a long bunt single that caromed off the first base bag. After RF Narciso Mesa popped up a bunt attempt into foul territory and CF Rafael Bautista was called for interference during a Norfork stolen base attempt sending Norfork back to first base and making Bautista out two-unassisted (Sisco). Rendon popped up to Kemp to end the frame.
In the fateful 9th for the home club, Rodriguez issued back-to-back walks to 2B Jeff Kemp and RF Tad Gold then SS Adrian Marian laid down a bunt single along the third base line to load the bases. Rodriguez yanked a wild pitch to the backstop scoring Kemp as the go-ahead run. Keys 1B Wynston Sawyer then struck out swinging in advance of the walk issued to Frederick DH Conor Bierfeldt to re-load the bases. Potomac RHP Brian Dupra entered and saw Witt lay down the insurance-run bunt to Dupra along the first base line that brough home Gold.
The circuit’s save leader, Keys LHP Cody Wheeler (16 SV) closed out the proceedings inking his 16th and in 17 save opportunities. Keller was thrown out on a bunt single attempt by Keller. Potomac C Spencer Kieboom, who was hit by a pitch, and DH Drew Ward’s walk were stranded on base at the end of the contest.
In the series finale on Friday evening, a 7:05pm clash will usher Nationals RHP Phillips Valdez (3-2, 4.53) to the hill to throw against Keys LHP Matt Taylor (0-0, 3.47).
The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will carry live coverage of the game beginning with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” at 6:50pm before the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. P-Nats Gameday Audio on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network is accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radio App.
Friday will be Christmas in July at The Pfitz and fans will engage in a Teddy Bear Toss. Post-game kids will run the bases courtesy of Glory Days Grill.
Gates to Pfitzner Stadium will open at 6:00pm for fan entry.
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