P-Nats Break Losing Streak at the Beach

By Will Flemming
For PotomacLocal.com

Myrtle Beach, S.C. –– Jose Lozada’s two-out safety squeeze in the seventh inning scored J.P. Ramirez and sealed a comeback 4-3 win that split Wednesday’s doubleheader in Myrtle Beach. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak, including a 6-3 decision in the opener, and gives the Nationals a chance to split their four-game series in Myrtle on Thursday.

Joe Testa (1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth inning in his 2011 Potomac debut and earned the victory in the nightcap, while Pat Lehman notched his fourth save to close out the win. Leury Garcia had singled to open the seventh inning, moved to second on a sacrifice fly and to third on Mike Olt’s fly ball to left, but Lehman stranded him there by striking out Jared Prince.

In the early part of the nightcap, it looked like the Nationals may remember the ballgame as one in which they failed to capitalize on opportunities. In the first and third innings, they loaded the bases. No runs scored in the opening frame, and Potomac mustered just one run in the third on Steven Souza’s single to left that made it 1-0.

Myrtle surged into the lead in their half of the third, led by Ryan Strausborger, who had the best day of his career. The Pelicans leftfielder belted two home runs and drove in five in the opening game, and his third homer of the evening made it 3-1 Pelicans. Andres James had reached on an error to open the inning and scored on Jared Bolden’s triple.

Potomac came right back to tie it in the third, but again left men aboard. A pair of one-out walks to Lozada and Cutter Dykstra ended starter Kennil Gomez’s night. Jeff Kobernus then doubled off Chad Bell to score Lozada. Dykstra crossed the plate and scored on Destin Hood’s groundout.

It would remain tied until the seventh, when manager LeCroy dialed up the squeeze in a 2-1 count for Lozada. It was the second time on the road trip the Nats executed the play to perfection.

Potomac led the opening game for the first four innings behind a solid start from Mitchell Clegg. But with two outs in the fifth, Bolden singled before Strausborger hit his first bomb to left to give Myrtle the lead for good.

He struck again in the sixth, with a blast off Rob Wort with two aboard to put the game out of reach. His first three homers of the season gave him seven RBIs on the day.

The Nationals look to split the series on Thursday, and they turn to righthander Trevor Holder at 7:05 p.m.

Will Flemming is the Director of Broadcasting for the Potomac Nationals.