Though the players and fans had to wait an extra hour and a half for the 2016 season to get underway, it was well worth it for the Potomac Nationals (1-0 Overall, 1-0 Road) as two home runs and a strong team pitching performance highlighted an Opening Night victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (0-1 Overall, 0-1 Home).
Potomac starter RHP Phillips Valdez (1-0) surpassed his 2015 season high in strikeouts (six) in just five innings of work in the win. The righty struck out seven and allowed just one run on three hits in an excellent season debut.
Opposite Valdez, RHP Zach Lovvorn (0-1) had an up and down outing for Wilmington, though the down, a three run fourth inning for the Nationals’ offense, was the difference in the game. Lovvorn gave up three runs and four hits over 3.1 innings as he picked up his first loss of the season.
The Nationals got the scoring started in the fourth inning as home run power, which was not present for much of the 2015 campaign, played a key role. After 1B Jose Marmolejos-Diaz drew a leadoff walk, C Raudy Read skied one over the wall in left field, a two-run shot that proved to be the game-winner. Lovvorn struck out 3B Drew Ward before 2B Bryan Mejia tallied his lone hit of the night. Mejia went first to third on a single by LF Alec Keller, which knocked Lovvorn out of the game. RHP Derek Gordon entered and surrendered an RBI groundout to DH Khayyan Norfork, as Potomac led 3-0 after 3.5 innings.
Wilmington’s lone run came in the bottom of the fourth, as Valdez gave up a leadoff single to SS Humberto Arteaga. After a walk to LF Alfredo Escalera, Arteaga stole third base, which proved critical, as he was able to score on CF Brandon Downes’ infield single. Downes’ RBI infield single was the only offense of the night for Wilmington, as Potomac held the Blue Rocks to just three hits.
Valdez turned the ball over to the bullpen duo of RHP Andrew Robinson and RHP Koda Glover. The bullpen pair combined for four no-hit innings. Robinson allowed just one base runner and struck out six over three innings, while Glover tallied two strikeouts in a perfect ninth frame.
In the sixth inning, Ward hit a towering shot over the wall in right field, his first home run of the season and second of the night for the P-Nats. Potomac added two insurance runs in the ninth inning against LHP Brennan Henry. Norfork had an RBI double that plated Ward, whileRF Narciso Mesa drove home Keller with a sacrifice fly.
Seven of the nine Potomac starters had at least one hit, as Ward and CF Andrew Stevenson each had a pair. Read and Norfork each had two RBIs. Potomac pitching notched 15 strikeouts and walked just two Wilmington hitters.
The two teams will meet again on Friday night at Frawley Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05pm, as RHP Wirkin Estevez takes the mound for Potomac while Wilmington will send RHP Pedro Fernandez to the hill. The P-Nats’ broadcast can be heard beginning at 6:50 with the “P-Nats Lead-Off Show” on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network, accessible at www.potomacnationals.com or with the TuneIn Radip App.
The Potomac Nationals play at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. The P-Nats are the defending Carolina League Champions after winning the 2014 Mills Cup Championship Series. Potomac Nationals 2015 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2015 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2015 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnics.
Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.comor call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!
Share
Contributors
