Early Lead Not Enough for Dash against Potomac
Published on May 2, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem jumped out to an early three-run lead, but the Potomac Nationals rallied for a 4-3 win at BB&T Ballpark Friday night.
With a sold-out crowd of 6,977 watching, the Dash (9-16) plated the initial run in the second inning. Michael Marjama led off the frame with a well-placed single that bounced off of third base. Michael Johnson followed with a single to right field, advancing Marjama to third. Nick Basto's bloop single to center gave Winston-Salem a 1-0 lead.
The Dash kept things rolling in the bottom of the third. Joey DeMichele doubled to the right-center field gap and scored on Keon Barnum's towering home run over the right field porch seats, providing the home team with a 3-0 advantage. It was Barnum's first dinger of the season.
The score remained 3-0 until the fifth inning, when Winston-Salem starter Braulio Ortiz ran into trouble against Potomac (15-9). The right-hander walked Khayyan Norfork and Stephen Perez to open the frame, then allowed a single to Oscar Tejeda. After recording a strikeout, Ortiz issued a bases loaded walk to Shawn Pleffner. Kyle Hansen entered in relief for the Dash, striking out the first batter he faced, but a walk to Justin Miller drew Potomac one run closer, at 3-2.
The P-Nats tied the game in the top of the seventh. Adrian Sanchez singled and stole second base against reliever Zach Isler (0-2). An infield hit by Justin Miller placed runners at the corners, allowing Sanchez to score on a groundout by Pedro Severino and tie the score at 3-3.
Potomac pulled ahead in the eighth inning. Tejeda hit a ground-rule double that hopped over the right field fence and later stole third base. After a Brandon Miller walk, Pleffner stroked a single up the middle against lefty Sean Bierman, giving the Nationals a 4-3 lead.
The Dash were nearly able to tie it in the bottom of the eighth. Johnson drew a two-out walk and tried to score from first on Basto's hit down the right field line, but a good relay throw resulted in Johnson being cut down at the plate to end the threat.
Matthew Spann (1-0) pitched two scoreless relief innings in his Potomac debut, and Robert Benincasa earned his sixth save of the year.
Winston-Salem falls to 6-3 this season when scoring the first run of the game, and it's only the fourth loss to Potomac at BB&T Ballpark in the last 22 matchups.
The Dash and Nationals will meet in the third game of the series Saturday night. Right-hander Mike Recchia (2-2, 2.95 ERA) is scheduled to face lefty Brett Mooneyham (2-1, 3.32 ERA), with the first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark. For tickets, visit wsdash.com or call (336) 714-2287.
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