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Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Drop Series with 6-4 Loss to Lynchburg

April 22, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA- Though the Potomac Nationals (9-9) handed LHP Sam Hentges (ND) his shortest start of the season, they fell 6-4 on Sunday afternoon to the Lynchburg Hillcats (10-7). The Hillcats scored the final three runs of the game for their second come from behind victory of the series, and their season best third consecutive win. RHP Joan Baez (ND) allowed three runs over the first two innings for Potomac, but did not allow a runner to reach third base over his final three frames.

For the fourth time in the series, Lynchburg scored the first run of the game. LF Mitch Longo led off the afternoon with a single, while 3B Gavin Collins followed with a two-run home run. Collins' first home run of the season made it 2-0 Lynchburg.

Potomac answered immediately against Hentges, who allowed four runs in the game, more than his total from his first three starts of the season (3). The P-Nats strung three straight two-out singles together in the home half of the first inning, as C Jakson Reetz made it 2-1 with a base hit.

Baez issued walks to the first two batters that he faced in the second inning, and an eventual wild pitch brought Lynchburg's lead back to two runs. The P-Nats got right back into the game in the home half of the frame, as CF Blake Perkins tied the game with a two-run double, which plated SS David Masters and 2B Edwin Lora.

The P-Nats took their lone lead of the game with a run off of Hentges in the fourth inning. Perkins doubled with one out, while DH Carter Kieboom followed with a sharp line-out to third base. The Hillcats went to the bullpen, and LHP Anderson Polanco entered and issued three straight walks. Reetz drew the third walk, as he picked up his second RBI of the game on the bases loaded free pass and gave Potomac the 4-3 advantage.

Lynchburg's bullpen was stellar in relief of Hentges. Though Polanco had command issues and allowed an inherited run to score, the lefty and two other pitchers combined for 5.1 innings of one-hit shutout relief. RHP Kieran Lovegrove (W, 1-0) worked two scoreless frames, while RHP Henry Martinez (SV, 4) walked a pair but escaped unscathed over two innings.

Out of the Potomac bullpen, RHP Jorge Pantoja (L, 0-1) allowed three runs, one earned, over two innings. 1B Emmanuel Tapia tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth inning, while an error on Lora led to two unearned runs in the seventh. CF Conner Capel plated two runs with a two-out single after the error. Capel's hit made it 6-4 Lynchburg, the eventual final.

Potomac threatened in the final frame against Martinez, as pinch hitter Jack Sundberg and 1B Austin Davidson each drew a one-out walk. 3B Jake Noll put in a bid for a walk-off home run, but Capel tracked it down shy of the warning track, while Reetz grounded out and ended the game.

Off of the series loss, the P-Nats will take part in the league-wide off day on Monday. Potomac will be back at it on Tuesday night, as they visit the Wilmington Blue Rocks for the first time in 2018.

First pitch at Frawley Stadium on Tuesday night is set for 6:35pm. The Potomac broadcast will get underway at 6:20pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show. You can listen to the Potomac broadcast at potomacnationals.com or on the TuneIn Radio App.

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Carolina League Stories from April 22, 2018


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