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Potomac Nationals

Nationals Deal Deuce-Seven to Hillcats in Finale

July 27, 2013 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Lynchburg, VA- The Potomac Nationals (62-40, 20-13) dealt the Lynchburg Hillcats (47-54, 11-21) a 7-2 defeat in the Game Four finale at Lynchburg City Stadium as Potomac RHP Blake Schwartz (8-4) tied the Nationals pitching staff lead with his eighth win of the 2013 campaign.

In pouncing on the 'Cats 7-2, the P-Nats took the set with three victories out of four contests played in their final series matchup against Lynchburg of the '13 regular season.

Schwartz tossed 6.0 shutout innings allowing just a double to C Shawn McGill in the 2nd inning and one batter was hit by a pitch, CF Matt Weaver, in the 3rd. Schwartz surrendered Lynchburg's only runs of the game in the 7th which catalyzed his exit from the game.

The righty finished with a line of 6.2 stanzas allowing just two earned runs on four hits with no walks while fanning five men.

Schwartz faced one over the minimum through 6.0 innings thanks to Weaver being caught stealing.

Lynchburg LHP Ryan Hinson turned in his second quality start when facing the Nationals but again was hit with the loss. Hinson went 7.0 innings and gave up three earned runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout to his line.

Potomac plated three runs in the 5th when 1B Justin Miller ripped an RBI single into right center field, Hinson threw away a bunt single from 2B Mike Gilmartin through first base to allow DH Kevin Keyes, who singled, to score, and RF Randolph Oduber knocked an RBI infield single to the hole at shortstop.

Lynchburg tagged Schwartz for the two runs in the 7th. An RBI fielder's choice from 3B Kyle Kubitza that Miller made a terrific diving stop on to prevent further damage yielded the first run. A run scoring one-base knock by SS Elmer Reyes cut the Potomac lead to 3-2.

Nationals RHP Rafael Martin came in to relieve Schwartz and although walked 2B Levi Hyams, got Weaver swinging to end the threat and strand the bases loaded. Martin fanned three of the last four he faced, all swinging, in 1.1 scoreless bullpen work.

The Nationals tallied four total runs over the 8th and 9th frames.

In the 8th, a double steal for CF Michael Taylor and 3B Cutter Dykstra led to an errant throw by McGill down to second base that sprung Taylor loose to home plate to give Potomac a 4-2 advantage. Taylor and Dykstra were both walked by RHP Brandon Cunniff.

The P-Nats brought eight men to the dish in the 9th and collected four consecutive hits off RHP Nate Hyatt to yield three more runs and take a 7-2 lead they would not relinquish. Miller's leadoff walk scored on an RBI single to left center off the bat of LF Caleb Ramsey and an error on the bobble by LF Josh Elander allowed Oduber to be plated after a groundball single into right field allowed Oduber to reach. An RBI single nailed back up the middle by SS Adrian Sanchez accounted for the final run.

Potomac RHP Rob Wort worked through a scoreless bottom of the 9th despite walking 1B Trenton Moses and allowing a single to McGill. Wort got Kubitza to fly out to center field, Reyes to strike out swinging, and Hyams to pop out to Sanchez at second base.

The Nationals open a three-game series against the Salem Red Sox (Boston) to wrap up this seven-game road series.

Sunday night's first pitch at LewisGale Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark is slated for 7:05pm with Potomac sending RHP Brian Rauh (2-1, 3.34) to face off with Salem LHP Henry Owens (8-4, 2.78) in the series opener.

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming Sunday night with the P-Nats Baseball Lead-Off Show at 6:50pm in preparation for the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage of Potomac Nationals Baseball is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.

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