The Potomac Nationals struck early and often as they cruised by the Salem Red Sox, 7-1, on Monday night at LewisGale Field, picking up a series sweep in the process.
Rafeal Bautista got things started in the first by crushing a triple off the center field wall. Two batters later, John Wooten lifted a fly ball deep enough to scored Bautista from third for a 1-0 Potomac lead.
The Nationals cushioned their lead in the second inning, beginning when Khayyan Norfork doubled to left-center to lead off. Zach Wright followed with a mammoth two-run homer, extending the lead to 3-0.
Wright began the fourth with a walk and Estarlin Martinez singled behind him. Bautista knocked in Wright with a one-out single and both Martinez and Bautista came home on a two-RBI single from Narciso Mesa. The three-run frame made it 6-0 Potomac.
Daniel McGrath (1-4) was tagged with his third loss in as many starts, as he allowed six runs on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout over five innings. Tyler Mapes (2-2) picked up the win in a spot start for Potomac, giving up only three hits in five shutout innings. In his fourth start of the season, Mapes struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Potomac added an insurance run on an RBI single from Grant DeBruin in the top of the seventh. Salem avoided being shut out for the second consecutive game with a run in the eighth as Kevin Heller singled and was driven home in the next at bat by a Dustin Lawley two-bagger.
Lawley was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two doubles and Forrestt Allday went 2-for-4 to pace the offense in the defeat. Brandon Show tossed two shutout innings in relief, giving him 13.1 scoreless frames over five appearances since joining the Red Sox.
Salem’s loss dropped them to an even .500 for the first time since June 11 at 51-51 and 13-19 in the second half while Potomac improved to 48-52 and 15-15.
The Red Sox now embark on a six-game road trip beginning in Lynchburg for a three-game set with the Hillcats. Ty Buttrey (7-3, 3.41) will take on Lynchburg’s Luis Lugo (6-9, 5.01) in the first game at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Fans can listen to the game on 1240 AM ESPN Roanoke, online at salemsox.com or via the TuneIn Radio app.
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