Justin Bloxom’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th propelled Potomac to a 5-4 win over Myrtle Beach on Wednesday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium.
The P-Nats third baseman led off the 10th inning against Pelicans reliever Trevor Hurley. The righty entered the game in the bottom of the 8th and had not allowed a hit to the first seven batters he faced. The only hitter to reach was Brian Peacock, who made it to first on a walk. But Bloxom, a switch-hitter batting from the left side, turned on a pitched and sailed it down the right field line. The ball soared high over the foul pole and Guss Curtis, the umpire, signaled “fair,” giving Potomac the walk-off win.
The P-Nats took two out of three from the Pelicans and continue to play strong baseball, winning six out of the last seven.
Washington Nationals pitcher Chad Gaudin started off the game for the P-Nats, which began at 10:35 for Middle School Science Day. Gaudin – slated to go one inning, rehabbing a shoulder injury – tossed a perfect top of the first. Potomac ace Danny Rosenbaum came in in the top of the second and followed with several strong innings. From the 2nd to the 4th, the lefty only allowed two hits and struck out four.
The game was scoreless going into the fifth. The Pelicans eight and nine hitters, Santiago Chirino and Jared Bolden, started the inning with singles. Two batters later Ryan Stausborger hit a triple into the left fielder corner, scoring both runners and giving Myrtle Beach a 2-0.
But Potomac countered in the bottom of the fifth with an inning that was twice as good.
Pelicans starter Robbie Ross danced around three doubles in the first four innings, but the fifth did not treat him quite as well. J.R. Higley and Jose Lozada opened things up with back-to-back singles. With runners at the corners, Eury Perez picked up a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Higley. The next batter, Jeff Kobernus hit the P-Nats’ fourth double of the game, plating Lozada and making it a 2-2 game.
Finally, Destin Hood capped of the inning with a laser beam home run that wrapped around the left-field foul pole. Hood’s fifth home run of the season gave the P-Nats a 4-2 lead.
The P-Nats bullpen did a nice job to keep the Pelicans offense in check after Myrltle Beach tied the game in the top of the seventh. Rob Wort relieved Danny Rosenbaum with two outs in the top of the 7th and runners at second a third. Wort popped up Jared Prince and eased out of the jam.
All totaled, Wort, Marcos Frias, and Joe Testa pitched a combine 2.1 IP and did not allow a hit. Joe Testa collected the win for Potomac, his fourth of the season. The Wagner College product has an ERA of 1.98.
The P-Nats start the final series of their 14-game home stand tomorrow when the Salem Red Sox return to the Pfitz. Potomac swept Salem last weekend in a three game set. Evan Bronson is scheduled to start the 7:05 game for the Nationals.
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