Rain Suspends P-Nats and Hillcats in Fifth

Woodbridge, VA - The Potomac Nationals (41-55) and Lynchburg Hillcats (57-40) were suspended in the top of the fifth inning on Saturday night with the P-Nats leading 6-5 at Pfitzner Stadium. The game will resume tomorrow at 1:05 pm before the regularly scheduled contest. Sunday's game will now be played as a seven-inning contest after the completion of the suspended game.
Tickets from tonight's game can be redeemed for any future P-Nats home game during the 2017 season.

The game will begin in the top of the fifth inning with runners on first and second and two outs. 1B Sicnarf Loopstok is at the plate with a 1-0 count. The Hillcats have already plated two runs in the inning.
After a one hour rain delay to start, Lynchburg scored first with a run in the top of the second against LHP Taylor Guilbeau . DH Gavin Collins crushed his second career Carolina League home run to lead off the frame. The Hillcats held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.
Potomac pounced on Lynchburg in the bottom half of the second. Starter RHP Brock Hartson was pulled after one batter in the frame after suffering an injury in the inning. RHP Paul Hendrix did not fair well against the P-Nats. With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, CF Victor Robles doubled on a hard hit ball to shortstop that ended up in left field. Then, LF Jack Sundberg drove in two more with a single up the middle. The four-run frame had the P-Nats up 4-1 after the second.
The P-Nats put up two more runs using the long ball in the bottom of the third inning. C Taylor Gushue launched his team-leading 16th home run of the season over the right-center field wall. Two batters later, RF Rhett Wiseman went yard for the eighth time this season. Potomac opened up a five-run lead after three.
However the Hillcats would battle back in the fourth and fifth innings. SS Willi Castro singled to begin the fourth and was followed by a LF Andrew Calica ground-rule double to put runners on second and third to open up the frame. Collins drove in his second run of the game on an RBI groundout to third. Next, Loopstok launched a double off the right-field wall to plate Calica and cut the Lynchburg deficit to 6-3.
In the top of the fifth, the Hillcats pulled within one before the game was suspended. With one out, DH Daniel Salters tripled into the right-field corner. 2B Sam Haggerty walked and stole his Carolina League-leading 30th base with Castro at the plate. Then, the Lynchburg shortstop singled to score Salters. After a Guilbeau strikeout, Collins singled to center to bring the Hillcats to within one at 6-5.
The rain started with Collins at the plate. The game lasted just one more pitch after the RBI single with Loopstok at the plate. Guilbeau missed with the first pitch before the umpires called for the tarp. With rain in the forecast for the rest of the night, the umpires decided to suspend the game on Saturday and finish the contest on Sunday. The suspended game will pick up at 1:05 pm.
The P-Nats will play a makeshift doubleheader tomorrow, finishing the suspended game at 1:05 pm. The regularly scheduled game for Sunday will be played as a seven-inning contest after the completion of Saturday's game. Potomac and Lynchburg will turn to the bullpen in the suspended game. LHP Hector Silvestre (7-5, 4.48) will start for the P-Nats against RHP Shao-Ching Chiang (7-7, 3.85) for the Hillcats.
First pitch of the suspended game will begin at 1:05 pm. The regularly scheduled game will begin 30 minutes after the completion of Saturday's game. Coverage begins at 12:50 pm with the P-Nats Leadoff Show on the Potomac Nationals Baseball Network. The broadcast can be streamed live on potomacnationals.com or through the TuneIn Radio or MiLB First Pitch apps!
The series and homestand concludes with Kids Day Sunday! This Kids Day Sunday is highlighted by a special, kids-only giveaway. Go back to school in style, with a Victor Robles soft lunchbox! The first 500 kids 12 and under will take one home, courtesy of N Zone Sports Prince William. The lunchbox has a P-Nats jersey on the front, with Robles', the Nationals' top ranked prospect, name and number on the back. Several lucky fans will have the chance to win one signed by Robles. If fans spend $25 or more in the National Mall Team Store, they will be entered in a raffle to win an autographed lunchbox.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League 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. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as corporate outings for the 2017 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017 single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket office at 703-590-2311.
-- Potomac Nationals --
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