WINSTON-SALEM USES FOUR RUN SIXTH TO DASH PAST POTOMAC 6-4
Both starters were cruising with scoreless outings until the fifth inning. The Nationals LF Kevin Keyes led off the inning with a homer out to deep straight away left field off of Dash starter LHP Spencer Arroyo. The line shot almost hit a dog on the grass on "Dog Day" at BB&T Ballpark. The P-Nats scored again on a fielders choice by Blake Kelso that scored Francisco Soriano to extend the lead to 2-0. On a double steal by Kelso and Randolph Oduber, the throw from catcher Mike Blanke ended up in center field which scored Oduber and Potomac led 3-0.
Potomac starter RHP Kyle Winters was cruising too until the bottom half of the fifth. The Dash got a bunt single from Nick Ciolli, a misplayed pop up ended up with Marcus Semien reaching on a single and a seeing eye hit from Jake Oester loaded the bases for Winston-Salem with one out. Daniel Wagner laced a single right passed Winters head into center to score Ciolli and Semien to bring the Dash within 3-2.
In the sixth, Winston-Salem struck again with Dan Black walking with one out. Bradley Shoemaker singled and scored, along with Black on a double by Mike Blanke to deep right center field to give Winston-Salem their first lead of the game 4-3. Ciolli was hit by a pitch and Semien singled to load the bases with one out. On a hard hit grounder up the middle, Francisco Soriano decided to throw him after making a diving stop and his throw was errant with Oester scoring the fifth run for Winston-Salem. The Dash added another on a sac fly by Daniel Wagner and led 6-4 after six innings.
David Freitas hit a two-out double in the seventh smashed down the left field line off Kyle Bellamy scoring Oduber to cut the lead to 6-4 for the Dash.
Again the Nationals bullpen was sharp with Neil Holland tossing an inning and two-thirds scoreless. Rob Wort struck out all three batters he faced looking in the eight pitching on back-to-back days.
Leroy Hunt came on in the ninth for Winston-Salem searching for his fifth save in as many tries. After picking up the save yesterday in a 4-1 Dash victory, Hunt pitched a 1-2-3 final frame to preserve a 6-4 Winston-Salem victory.
Winters (1-2) took the loss after giving up six runs in fite and a third innings. Jon Bachanov (2-0) picked up the win getting two outs in the sixth.
Both teams left eight players on base. There were just four combined 1-2-3 innings in the game with Wort and Hunt providing one each in the last two half-innings.
Tomorrow the Nationals and Dash have a noon matinee. Potomac LHP Matt Grace (1-1, 7.00) faces off with RHP Ryan Buch (0-1, 6.75) of the Dash. The Nats return home for a ten game home stand starting Friday night at 7:05 p.m. with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. For tickets, call us at 703-590-2311 or visit www.potomacnationals.com