CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Drops Season Opener in Lynchburg 9-3

Published on April 6, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(LYNCHBURG, VA) - The Potomac Nationals dropped their Opening Night contest with the Lynchburg Hillcats 9-3 Friday night at City Stadium. The Nationals were paced by David Freitas who knocked in all three runs for the P-Nats including a ninth inning solo homer.

The Hillcats got the scoring started with Nick Ahmed scoring the first run of the year in the Carolina League off a bloop single down the right field line from Tommy La Stella in the first. Lynchburg tallied another in the third when Braeden Schlehuber hit a lead-off solo homer 20 feet from the left line off starter Kyle Winters, who was making his Washington organization debut, to take a 2-0 lead.

Potomac opened their 2012 account in the fourth off Lynchburg starter Gus Schlosser. Blake Kelso doubled on a ball off the glove of David Rohm. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored when Matt Lipka made a diving catch off a David Freitas line drive in right center to bring the P-Nats within 2-1.

But the Hillcats extended their lead in the sixth. David Rohm doubled then scored on a Bobby Hefflinger two-run shot over the left field fence. Lynchburg scored again with Nick Ahmed after a triple coming home on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.

Anthony Rendon got his first professional hit in the seventh hitting a slicing liner to right center field for a triple. He scored a groundout by Freitas and Potomac cut the lead to 5-2. But in the bottom half, Lynchburg got some insurance with two more on Tommy La Stella's two run single to increase the advance to 7-2.

The Hillcats scored two more in the eighth to make it 9-2 in favor of Lynchburg. The P-Nats got their first homer of the year courtesy of David Freitas in the ninth: a high fly ball that left the yard to left.

Schlosser was brilliant for Lynchburg tossing eight innings yielding just two earned runs. He struck out just four but got Potomac to ground into three inning ending double plays in the first six innings in his first Carolina League start earning the win. Winters took the loss going five innings surrendering five innings and seven hits.

Tomorrow is game two of the three game series. The P-Nats send LHP Bobby Hansen to the hill for his Carolina League debut to duel with another southpaw: Ronan Pacheco. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. with coverage starting at 5:50 p.m. The Nationals return home next Friday, April 13th for their season opener with the Lynchburg Hillcats. Call us at 703-590-2311 for tickets or go to www.potomacnationals.com!

NOTES: Every Lynchburg player reached base safely... The game took just two hours and 17 minutes... The eight (Hefflinger) and nine (Schlehuber) batters combined to go four for six with five RBI and four runs scored... It was the managerial debut for Brian Rupp for Potomac... In his first professional plate appearance, Anthony Rendon walked on five pitches... Tommy La Stella had three RBI for Lynchburg...

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Carolina League Stories from April 6, 2012


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