P-Nats Swept in Doubleheader, Down 8 Games

Woodbridge, Va. –– The Potomac Nationals were swept in a doubleheader for the second straight day to cap off a winless seven-game home stand.

The Nationals – who lost the first game 3-2 and the second by a 5-2 tally – have now dropped eight straight games and sit alone in the basement of the Carolina League’s Northern Division.

It only took the Hillcats (21-27) two pitches to take a lead in Game One. Todd Cunningham rocketed Cameron Selik’s first pitch into right field for a triple; Andrelton Simmons belted Selik’s second offering into left field for a sacrifice fly that staked Lynchburg to a 1-0 lead.

Potomac (18-31) tied the game in the second, sparked by a leadoff double from J.P. Ramirez. After Sandy Leon sacrificed him to third and Jose Lozada walked, Cutter Dykstra grounded out to score Ramirez and tie the game.

The ‘Cats struck right back in the third inning. A one-out single by Cunningham was cashed in when Phil Gosselin roped a two-out single to right field to make it 2-1 for the ‘Burg.

Hillcats starter Willy Kempf allowed Potomac baserunners in each of his five innings of work, but the Nats only made him pay in two of those frames. A leadoff double by Jeff Kobernus – who had three hits on the afternoon – got the Nats going in the fifth. Kobernus tagged to third on a Destin Hood fly ball, and Justin Bloxom scored him with a ground ball to right.

In the sixth, the Nationals made the mistake that wound up costing them the game. With one out, Gosselin singled to center before Adam Milligan was walked. Joe Terdoslavich then flied to left to bring Barrett Kleinknecht to the plate. His ground ball to third was misplayed by Bloxom, which allowed Gosselin to score and break the tie.

Ryan Buchter pitched two scoreless innings in his Lynchburg debut for the save. Kempf got the win to level his record at 3-3, while Cameron Selik (0-4) was saddled with the loss and remained winless in his four starts with Potomac.

Game Two took on a far sunnier outlook from the outset. After Evan Bronson retired the ‘Cats in order in the opening inning, the offense went to work in the bottom half. Kobernus singled with one out and Hood was hit by a pitch. The Hillcats intentionally walked Steven Souza, and J.P. Ramirez made them pay. His line drive to right field scored a pair, but a fine throw by Ware nailed Souza at the plate and kept Potomac’s lead at 2-0.

Lynchburg did not, however, wait long to seize the lead back. Milligan was walked to open the inning, Terdoslavich singled and Gosselin sacrificed them both into scoring position. A single from Shawn McGill was backed up with a two-run double by Kleinknecht, and the Cats were ahead 3-2.

Bronson settled in from there and held the Cats off the board for the next three innings, but gave up a big insurance run in the sixth. Terdoslavich launched a homer deep to left to make it 4-2, but the Cats were not done hitting homers. L.V. blasted a homer to left off Josh Smoker to put the icing on the game and the sweep for the Cats.

Potomac went down in order in the seventh and dropped the nightcap 5-2.

The Nationals celebrate Memorial Day in Winston-Salem Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Danny Rosenbaum will look to play the role of stopper against Ryan Buch to open a seven-game road trip.