WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Jake Gatewood hit a solo home run in the second, Jose Cuas hit a two-run homer in the top of the third, but the Mudcats lost a three run lead in the last of the third while falling in their second half opener 5-3 on Thursday night
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Jake Gatewood hit a solo home run in the second, Jose Cuas hit a two-run homer in the top of the third, but the Mudcats lost a three run lead in the last of the third while falling in their second half opener 5-3 on Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va.
Jordan Yamamoto started for the Mudcats and set a new season high with eight strikeouts, but also allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings pitched while taking the loss. Yamamoto (1-1, 3.00) did not issue a walk, but gave up seven hits, including a game tying home run to Taylor Gushue in the third.
Gatewood's home run in the second was an opposite field shot to straightaway right and was off Potomac's starter Grant Borne. It was also his tenth of the season and at the time gave the Mudcats a 1-0 lead. Borne also allowed a two-run home run to Cuas in the third and was down 3-0 after three.
For Cuas, his home run in the third immediately followed a double by Max McDowell and came on his first swing with the Mudcats. Cuas was brought up from Low-A Wisconsin earlier in the day and finished the game 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Borne (3-2, 1.61) bounced back from the early 3-0 deficit and managed to hold the Mudcats without another run through the remainder of his outing. He worked through the sixth and allowed just the three runs on five hits. He also walked four and struck out six for the P-Nats.
Potomac trailed 3-0 in the third until Bryan Mejia started a three run rally with a leadoff single to right-center. Victor Robles then followed with a RBI double to left and Gushue eventually capped the frame with his two-run blast to right. Gushue's home run came on a 3-0 pitch and was his 13th of the season.
The Nationals later broke the tie with a go-ahead RBI double by Jack Sundberg in the fifth and went on to tack on one more with a RBI single by Ian Sagdal. The Nationals led 5-3 after five and held on for the series opening victory.
Kodi Medeiros followed Yamamoto out of the bullpen and worked through three scoreless while striking out three. Medeiros also gave up two hits, but did not issue a walk and faced only 10 over three innings.
Dakota Bacus and Gilberto Mendez later combined to hold the Mudcats scoreless over the final three frames out of the bullpen for Potomac. Bacus (H, 1) struck out two and allowed one hits over two innings. Mendez (S, 8) later stranded runners at first and third in the ninth while earning the save.
UP NEXT: The Mudcats and Nationals continue the four game series on Friday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Pfitzner Stadium. Right-hander Trey Supak (1-2, 6.20) will start for Carolina in game two of the four game set on Friday night in Potomac. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
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