P-Nats Lose Despite Major League Help

Woodbridge, Va. –– Ryan Zimmerman made his second rehab start in Woodbridge, but the P-Nats lost to the Frederick Keys 6-4 Wednesday night at Pfitzner Stadium.

The Nationals All-Star third baseman was relatively quiet at the plate and in the field. In the bottom of the first, Keys starter Ryoshei Tanaka got Zimmerman to strike out looking. The UVA product walked in the third, popped out to right in the fifth, and finished his evening with a groundout to short in the seventh. All totaled, Zimmerman went 0-3 with a walk in seven innings.

In the field, Zimmerman wasn’t tested until the seventh. Bobby Stevens hit a hard grounder to third and the Gold Glover scooped it up. But his throw short hopped first and skipped away from Justin Bloxom. Zimmerman was charged with an error. But the 26-year-old made up for it three batters later. Kipp Schutz rolled a slow ground ball down the third base line. Zimmerman charged, gloved, and made a strong sidearm throw to first for the out. Those were the only two balls hit to Zimmerman on Wednesday night.

In his first game with the P-Nats on Monday, Zimmerman went 2-3, with a single and a double.

Potomac started off the game well on Wednesday. Eury Perez led off the bottom of the first with a double, and Jeff Kobernus followed with an infield single. After Zimmerman’s strike out, Justin Bloxom drilled a double deep to right-center field. Perez came around to score and make it 2-0 Potomac. Destin Hood – the very next batter – duplicated Bloxom and hit a double. Bloxom scored and the P-Nats led 3-0.

After the big first inning, the Keys started to chip away – with Steve Bumbry being the big player. The right fielder hit an RBI double in the top of the second to get the Keys on the board. The second run came in the top of the third on a Justin Bloxom error at first base that allowed Jonathon Schoop to score from second.

The Keys tied it up in the top of the fifth. Bobby Stevens led off with a hit-by-pitch, and Schoop doubled him home.

Bumbry – who started the rally – gave Frederick the lead in the top of the six. With Tyler Kolodny on first base, the Virginia Tech product launched a two-run shot deep into the trees over the right field wall. 5-3 Keys.

Potomac tacked on one more run in the bottom of the eighth with a sacrifice fly by Destin Hood, but it wouldn’t be enough, as Frederick held on for the 6-4 win.

The Keys have now won eight straight games. Potomac has lost three straight.

Frederick goes for the four-game series sweep Thursday night. First pitch set for 7:05. Danny Rosenbaum throws for the P-Nats.

-Press release