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Potomac Nationals

Howell Hit Hard in Nationals' 6-3 Loss to Salem in Opener

September 5, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA-On Friday night under the lights at Pfitzner Stadium, the Potomac Nationals (64-72 Overall, 33-34 Home, 31-35 Second Half) were usurped by the Salem Red Sox (64-72 Overall, 33-34 Road, 26-40 Second Half) in the series opener of four games to finish the 2015 regular season by the final score of 6-3.

Knuckleballer RHP Jeff Howell (1-2), a former professional catcher, made his third Carolina League start and suffered his second loss with the P-Nats after getting bombarded by Salem in a six-run 2nd inning.

Howell walked one batter in the 1st frame after garnering two outs but his battery mate, C Raudy Read fired out Red Sox CF Kevin Heller from his knees with a 77 miles per hour throw down to second base.

An inning later, Howell walked four, balked once, and surrendered three hits including a leadoff single to 1B Mario Martinez, an RBI free pass to 3B Jordan Betts, a bases loaded three-RBI triple off the bat of LF Yoilan Cerse, and a gargantuan two-run home run blasted by 2B Wendell Rijo off the third tier of signage in left field. Salem DH Zach Kapstein, SS Deiner Lopez, and Heller also received first base due to excessive balls out of the strike zone.

In all, Howell went just 1.2 innings and gave up the aforementioned six earned runs on three hits and five walks while fanning just one man.

Opposite Howell, Salem starter, LHP Trey Ball (9-13) earned his ninth win with the requisite 5.0 innings worked to qualify for a victory. Ball allowed two runs (one earned run) on six hits and two walks. Ball struck out six hitters.

The Red Sox went just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base but lived off their six runs in Act One to garner their 64th "W" of the season despite not scoring for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the P-Nats plated individual runs in the 3rd, 4th, and 9th innings.

Potomac got on the scoreboard in the 3rd via an RBI 4-3 groundout from 1B Grant DeBruin. Prior to that run, Nationals CF Rafael Bautista was thrown out at home plate on an infield single rapped by RF Narciso Mesa along the third base line that was thrown away at first base by Betts. Salem RF Franklin Guzman picked up the ball and fired it to the dish. Betts was on the receiving end and he applied the tag to the sliding Bautista as Red Sox C Carlos Coste was backing up at first base and unavailable to cover the plate.

In the 4th stanza, the leadoff double of Nationals 3B Drew Ward blasted to left-center scored when SS Stephen Perez muscled an RBI single to right-center field.

In the 9th off Salem reliever, RHP Brandon Show (2 SV), The Red, White, and Blue received a single off the lumber of Read nailed into center field before Perez grounded into a 1-6-3 double play. Potomac LF Estarlin Martinez sprayed a single on the ground back up the middle, advanced to second base on defensive indifference, and scored on the second error of the night committed by Betts at third base on a throw-away at first base. Bautista tested Betts again with a groundball his way and it appeared Bautista was safe on the bang-bang play but he was called out and the ballgame was over.

Nationals bullpen slingers, LHP Jake Walsh, in long-man duty, and RHP Derek Self in short relief, both gave up no runs in 3.2 innings.

Walsh allowed two hits plus one walk and the southpaw fanned five men.

Self's offerings resulted in three base knocks by the Red Sox but also three strikeouts of visiting club swingers.

Show converted his second save in as many save chances with 4.0 frames out of the bullpen. Show allowed the one unearned run on four hits but no walks.

The Nationals cart RHP Tyler Mapes (5-3, 2.47) to the mound tomorrow night in series Game Two. Mapes will gun against Red Sox RHP Ty Buttrey (8-9, 3.98).

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