CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Offense Goes Silent as Potomac Swept in 7-0 Loss

Published on April 20, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA - As the first homestand came to an end for the Potomac Nationals (6-7 Overall, 1-6 Home), it was the visiting Lynchburg Hillcats (11-3 Overall, 7-0 Road) that celebrated. For the fourth straight day, the P-Nats came up on the wrong side of the end result, as Potomac was shut out for the first time in 2016, a 7-0 win for division leading Lynchburg.

For the seventh time in the seven-game homestand, Potomac gave up the first run of the game. For the fifth time in seven games, the P-Nats gave up at least a run in the top of the first inning, and had to battle out of a hole before they stepped into the batter's box. RHP Erick Fedde (L, 1-1) issued a leadoff walk to 3B Claudio Bautista, and DH Yu-Cheng Chang followed with a two-run home run off of the scoreboard in left field. It was Chang's second home run in five games vs. Potomac, as the Hillcats led 2-0 two batters into the game.

Fedde settled down and allowed just one more run through 5.2 innings, as he struck out a season high nine. He worked around a leadoff walk in the second inning and back-to-back walks to the first two hitters in the fourth before he ran into trouble with two outs in the sixth. CF Taylor Murphy singled and knocked Fedde out of the game, as RHP Jake Johansen came in and quickly surrendered an RBI double to 2B Mark Mathias. Mathias then scored two batters later on an RBI double by SS Ivan Castillo and the Hillcats led 4-0. Lynchburg had 10 hits, two home runs and three doubles.

The Potomac offense barely mustered a scoring opportunity vs. RHP Julian Merryweather (W, 3-0), who did not give up a run over 6.2 innings and ran his scoreless streak to 17.2 innings. 1B Jose Marmolejos singled against the righty in the first inning, C Matt Reistetter and CF Andrew Stevenson singled against Merryweather in the third, while SS Osvaldo Abreu and Marmolejos came up with singles in the sixth. The latter was Potomac's best scoring chance, as they had men at second and third with only one out, but both DH Drew Ward and 2B Khayyan Norfork were robbed of a base hit by Merryweather, who made back-to-back terrific defensive plays on ground balls hit right back up the middle.

Johansen's troubles continued in the seventh inning, though some bad luck and defensive misplays contributed in a major. Chang started the inning with a pop-up double into shallow right field that fell between Norfork, Marmolejos, and RF Dale Carey. LF Dorssys Paulino followed with a pop-up single to the same spot, one that deflected off of Marmolejos' glove. With two men on, 1B Bobby Bradley hit the shortest possible home run at Pfitzner Stadium, as his third home run of the year barely cleared the wall in left field and was fair by about 18 inches. Bradley's home run made it 7-0, the eventual final.

RHP David Speer relieved Merryweather with two outs in the seventh and faced just one over the minimum over 2.1 innings of shutout relief. Potomac RHP Derek Self continued his great start to the season, as he did not allow a base runner over 0.2 of an inning and has yet to allow an earned run this season. Stevenson's single in the third inning extended his hit streak to a league high 11 games, while Marmolejos lengthened his on-base streak to 13 games with a 2-4 afternoon.

Coming off of a tough 1-6 homestand, the P-Nats will play five games in four days in Wilmington, DE vs. the Blue Rocks. The series opens up with a doubleheader on Thursday that is set to begin at 5:05pm. In game one, Potomac will send RHP Boone Whiting (2-0, 5.40) to the hill to try to snap Potomac's four-game losing streak. For Wilmington, it will be RHP Ashton Goudeau (1-1, 7.27). Game two will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one, with both games scheduled for seven innings. The P-Nats broadcast of the doubleheader gets underway at 4:50pm with the "P-Nats Lead-Off Show" via the TuneIn Radio App or at PotomacNationals.com.

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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Carolina League Stories from April 20, 2016


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