By Will Flemming
For PotomacLocal.com
Kinston, N.C. –– Two outs from a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night that would have earned a series win in Kinston, Marcos Frias gave up consecutive solo home runs that tied the ballgame and sent it to extra innings.
In the 12th, a critical P-Nats error extended the inning and set the stage for Anthony Gallas’s single into left field that lifted the K-Tribe to a 4-3 win.
The Nationals, plagued by errors in the series, had played a sparkling defensive game until the 12th. But Justino Cuevas saw a tough chopper clip off his glove at third and into left field; two batters later with two outs, Gallas drilled a 1-2 pitch to deep left center field that won the game for the Indians and pushed their second half record to 5-1. Potomac falls to 2-4 with the defeat.
The late inning troubles spoiled a fantastic start by Adam Olbrychowski, the best offensive night of J.P. Ramirez’s season, and otherwise sterling defense by the P-Nats. Olbrychowski outdueled Kinston knuckleballer Steve Wright and allowed just one earned run in six and two thirds innings. The Indians got just four hits against Olbrychowski, who struck out four and had an overwhelming curveball.
The Nationals spotted the righthander a lead with single runs in the first two innings. Each time, a leadoff single (by Francisco Soriano in the first and Ramirez in the second) became a run on RBI groundouts. Justin Bloxom plated the first run and Eury Perex made it 2-0 with a chopper to third in the second.
The Indians cut the lead in half with consecutive two-out doubles in the fourth by Jeremie Tice and Adam Abraham.
Ramirez pushed the lead back to a pair with his sixth home run of the season, a deep blast to right field in the sixth that made it 3-1.
Josh Smoker relieved Olbrychowski, who walked the last two batters he faced, with two outs in the seventh. He struck out Delvi Cid and retired the Indians in the eighth to give way to Frias.
After Frias struck out Abraham to open the inning, he gave up a homer to Chase Burnette that drew the Indians within one. It was Burnette’s first home run since May 7. The next batter, Tyler Cannon, tied the game with a blast to deep left.
Potomac mounted virtually no threats in extra innings: their only hit was a one-out single by Sandy Leon that was erased on the next pitch by a double play.
The Nationals head home having dropped four of six in the second half’s first road trip. The Winston-Salem Dash come to Woodbridge for a three-game set that begins Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.
Will Flemming is the Broadcast Director for the Potomac Nationals.
Recent Stories
Brew Republic Bierwerks, a longtime fixture in the Stonebridge Town Center, will permanently close its doors after nearly nine years in business.
Warm, humid weather will give way to scattered thunderstorms this afternoon as a weak cold front drifts through the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Heads up! VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads starting at noon Thursday, July 3, through noon Monday, July 7. But here’s what’s happening before and after the break:
The Virginia State Police issued a Senior Alert Friday night for a missing 78-year-old man last seen in Stafford County.
The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is your destination for all arts and culture activities in Northern Virginia. Find a concert, play, poetry reading, or exhibition in your neighborhood—many events are free and family-friendly!
Are you part of a performing arts group, school, or cultural organization? You can add your events and classes, too. The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is free and easy to use.
Your attendance at local arts events supports small businesses in our community and the art makers who help make Fairfax and its surrounding region so vibrant. With the ArtsFairfax Events Calendar, you can stay curious and stay local to plan your next arts adventure!
Go Ape, America’s leading aerial adventure park provider, is proud to unveil a revitalized experience across its iconic Zipline & Adventure Parks. This refresh goes beyond physical upgrades; it reflects a renewed mission to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and self.
“Go Ape has always been about thrilling treetop adventures,” says Chrissy Very, Senior Director of Marketing. “Now, we’re redefining what it means to truly connect: through purpose-driven outdoor experiences that inspire courage, reflection, and joy.”
As access to public outdoor spaces becomes more limited, Go Ape steps in to bridge the gap with immersive, inclusive, and wellness-focused adventures for individuals, families, and groups.
Christmas in July
Volunteer Prince William will be holding a fun-filled Christmas in July event at Heritage Brewing Co on July 26th from 12pm until 6pm with all proceeds going to support the 2025 Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket Program. Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
This unique Convention truly has something
