By Will Flemming
For PotomacLocal.com
Woodbridge, Va. –– On a bizarre night where nineteen men were left on base and the two clubs combined for only nine hits, the Potomac Nationals delivered when it mattered most in the bottom of the ninth and walked off with a 3-2 win against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
After the Nationals surrendered a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, Destin Hood’s infield single sent Potomac to a win in their first home game in 17 days.
Both starting pitchers got in trouble early but escaped unscathed. Both clubs stranded two runners in the opening inning; Myrtle (15-9) left the bases loaded in the third against Danny Rosenbaum while Potomac (10-13) stranded a pair in the fourth. Both Rosenbaum and Barret Loux settled in during the middle innings; there would have been no baserunners in the fifth and sixth were it not for a catcher’s interference that put Destin Hood aboard in the sixth.
Potomac finally drew first blood in the seventh – and fittingly, it came without a hit. After Sandy Leon walked to open the inning, Jose Lozada laid a bunt down the third base line. Michael Olt barehanded and threw past first base to move runners to second and third. Trevor Hurley then fired a wild pitch to the backstop to score Leon.
The Nats doubled their lead in the eighth. After a Steven Souza double, Justin Bloxom laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in his Potomac debut. J.P Ramirez then hit a hot shot to short that led to a 2-0 edge.
Myrtle tied the game when Jared Bolden hit a home run to right field with one out in the ninth. Joe Testa (2-0) came in to pitch the final out of the ninth and earned the victory. But the Nationals answered back in their half of the final inning.
Chris Curran singled with one out before Francisco Soriano walked. Jeff Kobernus grounded into a force out that moved Curran to third. Hood then hit a ball hard off Kennil Gomez (0-1) between shortstop and third to send the Nationals to the victory.
Potomac goes for the series victory Tuesday with Mitchell Clegg on the hill. Robbie Ross counters for Myrtle Beach at 11:05 a.m.
Will Flemming is the Director of Broadcasting for the Potomac Nationals.
