Nationals Drop Season Finale 4-2 to Lose Series to Salem
September 7, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release
Woodbridge, VA-The P-Nats (65-74-Overall, 34-35-Home, 33-37-Second Half) allowed three runs in the top of the first to the Salem Red Sox (66-73-Overall, 35-35-Road, 41-35-Second Half) and ultimately dropped the season finale 4-2 at Pfitzner Stadium on Labor Day Monday.
RHP Austen Williams (4-6, 2.59) made his 25th start overall in 2015 and 11th start for the Nationals, looking for his 13th win combined in 2015. Williams ran into trouble right out of the gate in the ballgame, giving up three runs in the top of the first.
SS Mauricio Dubon led the whole thing off with a single followed by an infield single by the number two man 2B Wendell Rijo. CF Kevin Heller knocked in Dubon with an RBI single to give the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead and they weren't done yet. Two batters later, RF Franklin Guzman brought home both Rijo and Heller for a 3-0 lead for the Sox.
The Nationals answered with a solo run in the bottom of the first on two, one out singles by LF Alec Keller and 1B John Wooten. DH Brenden Webb grounded out but moved both runners up a bag and then 3B Drew Ward walked to load the bases. C Raudy Read picked up his fifth RBI of the season with the Nationals in his fifth game on a walk issued by the starter for Salem RHP Kevin McAvoy, cutting the lead to 3-1.
Salem added a run against Williams in the top of the fifth inning when Dubon doubled. Two batters later Heller doubled home Dubon for a 4-1 lead.
Williams pitched six innings for the seventh consecutive start with the Nationals, allowing four runs (earned) on nine hits, no walks and he struck out four, throwing 83 pitches with 61 for strikes. Williams took his sixth loss of the season with Potomac.
McAvoy last only 2.2 innings getting dinged for one run (earned) on two hits, two walks and punched out one.
RHP Kyle Kraus (2-2, 1-34) entered in the bottom and struck out Ward to end the third in relief of McAvoy. Kraus earned the win for his 3.1 innings of work allowing only one run (earned) on three hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
The Nationals scored their lone run against Kraus in the sixth inning when Ward singled to extend his on-base streak to 21 games to end the season. C Raudy Read doubled him to third and then RF Estarlin Martinez lined a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Ward to cut the lead to 4-2 Red Sox.
That was the final as LHP Luis Ysla pitched a scoreless two innings, striking out one batter and RHP Taylor Grover (SV 4) pitched a one, two, three ninth to close out the 4-2 Red Sox win and ink his fourth save of the season.
For the Nationals RHP Jeff Howell pitched a scoreless seventh inning, walking two and striking out one followed by LHP Justin Thomas, who threw the final two innings, walking one and striking out one.
The Nationals end the season 65-74 overall and 33-37 in the second half, also finishing 9-13 against Salem and 32-37 against the Southern Division.
The Red Sox, with their win today in the finale, win the series and hand Potomac their second straight loss to wrap up the 2015 season.
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Carolina League Stories from September 7, 2015
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