Wilmington offense too much for P-Nats in 12-6 defeat

The Potomac Nationals (15-11) could not stop the Wilmington Blue Rocks’ offense on Wednesday night, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits, both totals setting new season-highs against the P-Nats this year.

Potomac was the first team to score in tonight’s game, however, taking a 2-0 lead against RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (W, 3-0) in their first trip to the plate. After a pair of walks to CF Blake Perkins and RF Juan Soto, 3B Jake Noll doubled down the left field line for the first run of the game. 1B Ian Sagdal followed with an RBI groundout the very next batter.

The lead would not last for long for the P-Nats, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks took the lead for good with a five-run top of the third inning against LHP Matthew Crownover (L, 1-3). DH Chase Vollot started the inning with a solo home run (4) as the first of 10 Blue Rocks to come to the plate in the frame. 2B Gabriel Cancel tied the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, 3B Emmanuel Rivera gave Wilmington the lead with a two-run double, and C Xavier Fernandez extended the lead with an RBI double of his own.

Crownover’s day was done after three innings, but the Wilmington offense did not let up. After the Blue Rocks added a run against RHP Ronald Pena in the top of the fourth, the P-Nats chipped away at the lead with runs in three consecutive innings, highlighted by LF Rhett Wiseman’s solo home run (4) in the fourth inning.

With the P-Nats trailing just 6-5, Wilmington broke out for five more runs in the top of the seventh. Rivera and 1B Chris DeVito each drove in runs with RBI singles, while Vollot provided the knockout punch for the Blue Rocks with a three-run home run (5) to set the score at 11-5. Rivera and Vollot each finished the game with four runs batted in.

After a run-scoring single from CF Khalil Lee in the top of the eighth, Potomac answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. DH Telmito Agustin continued his torrid pace to start the year with an RBI triple, and SS Carter Kieboom knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the ninth, The Red, White, & Blue loaded the bases with no one out, but RHP Matt Wynne (SV, 2) retired the next three batters to secure the 12-6 victory for Wilmington.

With their season-high four game winning streak snapped, the P-Nats return for the series finale on Thursday night. RHP Sterling Sharp (2-2, 4.62) gets the start for the Potomac, facing Wilmington LHP Cristian Castillo (1-2, 7.23).

First pitch on Thursday 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.