For the second time this season, the Potomac Nationals (64-48, 30-14) picked up a sweep of at least four games over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (40-72, 13-30). After a five-game sweep at Frawley Stadium in April, Potomac capped off a four-game sweep Sunday night with a 6-2 win at Pfitzner Stadium. RHP Austen Williams (W, 3-3) allowed two runs, one earned, over eight innings. It was the longest start for a Potomac starter in 2016.
The P-Nats fell into an early hole, as the Blue Rocks tallied a two-out RBI base hit in two of the first three innings. After DH Brandon Downes reached on a fielding error by 3B Austin Davidson, C Chad Johnson put the Blue Rocks on top 1-0 with a two-out RBI single. After two quick outs in the third, Williams gave up a two-out double to LF Anderson Miller, while 1B Samir Duenez drove him home with a single. The next two Blue Rocks hitters reached base, but Williams struck out RF Elier Hernandez and ended the inning, as the Blue Rocks led 2-0 after 2.5 innings.
Potomac managed just one base runner over the first three innings against RHP Andy Ferguson (L, 0-3). SS David Mastersdrew a two-out walk in the third inning, as Ferguson struck out three men the first time through the order and faced only 10 hitters over three innings.
The P-Nats got help from two Wilmington errors in the fourth inning and tied the game at two. RF Alec Keller led off the frame with a single and scored on an RBI base hit by DH Raudy Read. After CF Cody Jones dropped a fly ball hit by Davidson, 1B Matt Page tied the game with a two-out RBI groundout to second base.
Ferguson worked a perfect fifth inning, but failed to get through the sixth. The righty gave up a leadoff double to Keller before he retired the next two hitters. Davidson drew a walk, and Page put Potomac on top 3-2 with an RBI single, which ended Ferguson’s night. Out of the Wilmington bullpen, LHP Jake Kalish left the first pitch of his night over the plate, as C Jake Lowery made it 6-2 with a three-run home run to right field. It was the first home run for Lowery in 2016.
Williams settled into a groove after the third inning, as just three more men reached base over his eight-inning outing. The righty faced the minimum from the fourth through sixth innings, gave up a single in the seventh, and a double in the eighth.RHP Neil Holland came in for Potomac to start the ninth and gave up two singles through his first four hitters, as the P-Nats went back to the bullpen with the tying run on-deck and two outs. RHP Ryan Brinley (SV, 13) fell behind Jones 3-1, but got the Wilmington centerfielder to pop out to end the game.
With the victory, Potomac improved to a season best 16 games over .500, and paired with a loss by Lynchburg, now leads the Northern Division by a season high four games. Potomac picked up a win despite getting outhit 9-5, the second straight win with fewer hits than the opponent. Both sides made a pair of errors through four innings, but then played error-free baseball the rest of the night.
Following a league wide off day Monday, the P-Nats will welcome the Lynchburg Hillcats to Pfitzner Stadium for a three game series that gets underway Tuesday night. In the opener, RHP Boone Whiting (9-2, 3.30) will get the nod for Potomac. Whiting allowed one earned run over 6.1 innings in his return to Potomac against the Hillcats on August 3rd. For Lynchburg, RHP Matt Esparza (0-2, 3.18) is set to make his second straight start against Potomac. Esparza allowed two earned runs over 5.1 innings in a loss to Potomac last time out. First pitch Tuesday night is set for 7:05pm.
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