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CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Monday Opener vs. Lynchburg Suspended in the 5th, P-Nats Lead 4-2

May 2, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Lynchburg, VA - For the third time in less than a week, the Potomac Nationals (14-8 Overall, 10-1 Road) had rain alter their playing schedule. Monday night, in the midst of Potomac's at-bat in the fifth inning, a major rainstorm pulled on top of Lynchburg and caused the series opener between the P-Nats and Northern Division leading Lynchburg Hillcats (17-7 Overall, 7-4 Home) to be suspended.

Just prior to the suspension, Potomac 1B Jose Marmolejos led off the fifth inning with his third home run of the season, which made it 4-2 Potomac. P-Nats' starter RHP Wirkin Estevez struggled in the first inning, but did not allow another man to reach base over four innings. Estevez walked CF Greg Allen to begin the bottom of the first inning, gave up a single to SS Yu-Cheng Chang, and two batters later hit Bobby Bradley with a 1-2 pitch. With the bases loaded and one out, Estevez walked RF Taylor Murphy to make it 1-0 Lynchburg. DH Dorssys Paulino followed with a sacrifice fly as the Hillcats led 2-0 after one inning.

The P-Nats answered right away vs. LHP Sean Brady. Though Brady struck out the side in the first inning, he struggled significantly in each of the other four innings he pitched in. LF Dale Carey opened up the second with a walk, 3B Drew Ward followed with a single, 2B Bryan Mejia made it 2-1 with an RBI double, and DH Alec Keller tied the game with an RBI single. RF Narciso Mesa walked with one out to load the bases, but CF Andrew Stevenson and SS Osvaldo Abreu both failed to bring anyone home and take the lead.

Despite leaving the bases loaded in the second, the P-Nats took the lead in the third against Brady. Once again, Carey drew a walk and then stole second base. Mejia's second RBI hit of the ballgame plated Carey and put Potomac on top 3-2. In the fourth inning, an error by Brady and an error by 1B Bobby Bradley put the first two men in the inning on-base, but Stevenson lined out to centerfield and Abreu hit into an inning-ending double play.

Brady returned for the fifth inning near the 90-pitch mark, and Marmolejos quickly made it 4-2 with a solo home run over the right field wall. Carey then reached for the third time in less than five full innings with a single, before the umpires pulled everyone off the field and the skies opened up.

The two teams will resume the game with Ward at the plate, Carey on first base, and no outs in the top of the fifth inning at 5:30pm Tuesday evening. The teams will play the full nine innings from the suspended game, and then follow it up with a seven-inning back half of the modified doubleheader.

The "P-Nats Lead-Off Show" is scheduled to begin at 5:15pm from Lynchburg. RHP Erick Fedde (1-2, 4.91) is scheduled to start the full game Tuesday for Potomac, while Lynchburg is set to counter with LHP Justus Sheffield (2-1, 3.33).

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Potomac Nationals 2016 season tickets, mini plans, and single game tickets are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2016 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2016 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group ticket rates and all-inclusive picnics. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!

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