P-Nats Win Fourth in a Row

By Will Flemming
For PotomacLocal.com

Woodbridge, Va. –– The P-Nats dropped the Salem Red Sox 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium to complete the three-game sweep and win four in a row.

Potomac scored one run per inning from the third through the sixth, and outfielder J.R. Higley led the offensive effort. But, it was Destin Hood the put the P-Nats on the board first.

Eury Perez started the bottom of the third with a single. Two batters later, with Perez on third, Destin Hood grounded out to short, allowing Perez to score and tie the game at one. It was Hood’s 34th RBI of the season.

In the bottom of the fourth, Higley hammered a solo home run to left field – his second of the season – and the P-Nats took a one run lead, 2-1.

Potomac continued its one run pace in the fifth. Again, it was Perez who scored. The centerfield began the inning with a single to right field – a perfectly placed ground ball through the hole on the right side of the infield. He moved up to second one a steal (18th of the season) and third on a groundout by Hood. Right on cue, Salem starter Ryan Pressly uncorked a wild pitch and Perez scampered home to make it 3-1 Potomac.

J. R. Higley rounded out a strong game in the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Brian Peacock led off with a walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sandy Leon. Higley singled home Peacock with a line drive up with middle. Potomac held a 4-2 lead at that point.

The Folsom, CA native finished the afternoon 3-4, with a home run and two RBI. Shortstop Justino Cuevas also had a stand out game, going 3-4, and triple and an RBI. In fact, Potomac had ten hits from just four players. Higley and Cuevas had three. Eury Perez and Sandy each added two.

Paul Demny pitched an effective game for the P-Nats. The righty tossed 5.2 innings, with five hits, three walks, and five strikeouts. He has 44 strikeouts on the year.

Demny did allow one rather loud run. In the top of the sixth, Salem back-up catch Matt Spring slugged a sky rocket home run. The solo shot hit the clock on the top of the scoreboard in left-center field. It was such a perfect shot that it even changed the time on the clock.

Despite the bomb, Demny picked up his third win of the season and dropped his ERA to 4.38. Out of the bullpen, Dean Weaver, Marcos Frias, and Rob Wort combined to throw 3.1 scoreless innings. Wort closed out the game for his first save of the season.

The P-Nats’ 14-game home stand continues Monday with game number eight, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans visit the first. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Will Flemming is the Broadcast Director for the Potomac Nationals.