CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Taylor Hill Guns to Fourth Win as P-Nats Break Blue Rocks 7-4

Published on May 16, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA- The Potomac Nationals (22-18, 14-10) earned their fifth consecutive series win with a 7-4 rubber match triumph over the Wilmington Blue Rocks (18-22, 10-14) on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium using a strong start from the winning pitcher, RHP Taylor Hill (4-1), who dealt 6.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits without walking a batter, while fanning five in the process. The Nationals took the three-game set by winning two out of three contests and improving their head-to-head record against Wilmington to (4-2). Hill now has a P-Nats' staff-best four wins in 2013.

The Blue Rocks scored the first run of the game as SS Jack Lopez belted a double into the left field corner to lead off the game before 3B Cheslor Cuthbert stroked a bloop RBI single into left center field to score Lopez.

Hill's opposition was the number one overall prospect in the Kansas City Royals farm system per Baseball America, RHP Kyle Zimmer (0-3), who was hit with the loss after surrendering five earned runs on six base hits while walking a trio and striking out five. Zimmer allowed a colossal home run off the stick of 1B Kevin Keyes, a two-run shot in the 1st inning to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. The blast was Keyes' fourth homer of the 2013 season and his second bomb dropped at Pfitzner Stadium on the year.

Potomac added another run in the 3rd frame to take a 3-1 advantage as Keyes ripped an RBI single back up the middle to plate CF Michael Taylor, who was hit by a pitch and previously had stolen second base to get into scoring position.

Wilmington cut the Nationals' lead to 3-2 with one run in the 4th inning on an RBI groundout off the stick of 2B Kenny Diekroeger swept to SS Wilmer Difo.

The Nationals answered to pad their lead with a pair of runs to put the score at 5-2 in favor of the home club in the bottom of the 4th when RF Justin Miller swept a bases loaded two-RBI double up the left field line to score C Adrian Nieto and RF Caleb Ramsey, who both singled.

Two more runs in the 5th inning for the P-Nats broke the Blue Rocks as Ramsey lazered a two-run single into right field to summon home Keyes and Nieto.

Two run tallies in the 7th inning off Potomac LHP Christian Meza proved too little, too late for the visitors. DH Daniel Mateo, after an RBI double into the gap into left center, scored on a passed ball through Nieto but Wilmington would not produce another run in the contest.

Nationals RHP Richie Mirowski (SV 2) pitched a perfect 9th inning to seal his second save of the 2013 journey.

The P-Nats head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina Friday morning to begin a three-game weekend road series with the Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox). The series opener Friday night will get underway with a 7:00pm first pitch.

The Nationals send RHP Blake Schwartz (3-1, 0.82) to deal against Dash RHP Ryan Buch (0-0, 0.00).

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming with the P-Nats Baseball Pre-Game Show at 6:45PM before the live play-by-play at 7:00pm. Broadcast coverage is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com .

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2013 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. Sponsorship opportunities for the '13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now in preparation for the summer months as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more!

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Carolina League Stories from May 16, 2013


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