The Potomac Nationals (62-54, 25-22) nearly completed history on Tuesday night, as they flirted with both a perfect game and a no-hitter in game one of a doubleheader vs. the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (53-67, 19-31), but lost 1-0, while game two went scoreless until the sixth inning, when Potomac took a lead in an eventual 1-0 victory.
Game one of Tuesday night’s doubleheader was arguably the best pitched game involving either team thus far in 2018. LHP Ben Braymer (ND) retired the first 18 batters of the night for Potomac, and worked seven no-hit innings, while RHP Alex Lange (ND) allowed just two hits over six-shutout frames for the Pelicans.
After Braymer retired the first 18 men that he faced, he issued a leadoff walk to CF D.J. Wilson in the seventh inning. SS Aramis Ademan followed with an attempt at a sacrifice bunt, but forced into an out at second base, while Braymer retired the next three hitters. After seven no-hit frames, Braymer turned to his offense for a chance for a walk-off victory.
Potomac failed to capitalize on a one-out walk from RF Rhett Wiseman in the home half of the seventh inning, which sent the game into extra frames. RHP Jacob Condra-Bogan (L, 0-2) worked around the free baserunner and a walk in a scoreless eighth inning, which preserved the no-hit bid, but Potomac left the winning run at third base in the home half of the frame, as 2B Bryan Mejia struck out with LF Telmito Agustin at third base with one out, while SS Luis Garcia flied out to centerfield. In the ninth inning, 3B Yeiler Peguero started the inning as the free baserunner at second base, advanced to third base on a groundout by LF Zach Davis, and scored on a two-out RBI single from Ademan. Ademan’s hit broke up the first potential no-hitter in the Carolina League in more than a year. Potomac then got Garcia to third base with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but 1B Aldrem Corredor groundout out to LHP Manny Rondon (W, 1-3) to end the game.
The back half of the doubleheader didn’t feature either side flirting with perfection or a no-hitter, but saw both teams struggle offensively until Potomac plated a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. LHP Matthew Crownover (ND) worked five-shutout frames for Potomac, while LHP James Buckelew (ND) spun two-scoreless frames in his Myrtle Beach debut.
RHP Steven Fuentes (W, 3-1) then worked two perfect innings for Potomac out of the bullpen, mixed around a two-out RBI single from Corredor in the bottom of the sixth inning. Corredor’s hit came off of LHP Jose Paulino (L, 0-7), who allowed just one run on two hits over four frames out of the Pelicans’ bullpen.
The doubleheader split saw the teams go a combined 3-25 with RISP, total just two runs on 12 hits, and take nearly five hours from first pitch of game one until the final pitch of game two. The win in game two snapped a season-high five-game losing streak for Potomac.
The four-game series will continue on Tuesday night, as RHP Kyle Johnston (3-1, 3.19) is set to take the mound for Potomac. In each of his last three outings, Johnston has allowed no more than two earned runs. For the Pelicans, RHP Tyson Miller (8-8, 3.81) will look to get his team the series advantage. Miller leads the Carolina League in WHIP (1.13) and is third in OBA (.225).
First pitch at Northwest Federal Field on Tuesday 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, at http://bit.ly/P-NatsBroadcast, or on the TuneIn Radio App.
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