By TIM SWARTZ
Potomac Nationals
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Tommy La Stella drove home three runs and J.R. Graham went six strong innings as the Lynchburg Hillcats snapped their two-game losing streak knocking off the Potomac Nationals by the final score of 6-4. Matt Chaffee picked up his second save of the season striking out the possible tying run in Adrian Sanchez to end the game.
Lynchburg scored in five of the nine innings against Potomac pitching and had the leadoff man reach in all of their scoring innings. La Stella was 2-for-4 on the game and drove home the first three runs of the game for the Hillcats. He now leads the Carolina league with 12 RBIs on the season.
Graham (2-0) struck out six batters on his outing giving up three runs on four hits in six innings of work.
Lynchburg (6-3) took their first lead of the series in the opening half inning thanks to a Tommy La Stella RBI double that scored Matt Lipka.
Kevin Keyes tied up the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning with a towering solo home run to left field. Keyes has now homered in back-to-back games.
The Hillcats regained the lead in the top of the 3rd inning as Tommy La Stella added to his RBI total with a two-run double off P-Nats starter Adam Olbrychowski to make it 3-1.
Potomac (3-5) was able to battle back once again in the 4th inning to tie up the game. After Blake Kelso and Justin Bloxom reached to begin the inning, David Freitas lined a two-run double to the wall in left center field to tie the game at 3-3.
Nick Ahmed gave Lynchburg the lead once again in the 5th inning with an RBI single that brought home Kyle Rose.
Nationals starter Adam Olbrychowski (0-2) was chased from the game in the top of the 6th and took the loss allowing five runs on six hits and two walks.
Leading 5-3 in the top of the 7th inning, Matt Lipka provided an insurance run for the Hillcats with a solo home run, his first of the season, to increase the lead to 6-3.
Nationals finish their series with the Lynchburg Hillcats tomorrow afternoon at the Pfitz at 1:05 p.m.
