Series Finishes with Broken Losing Streak

By Will Flemming
For PotomacLocal.com

Winston-Salem, N.C. –– The Potomac Nationals’ bats awakened on getaway day in Winston-Salem and pounded out ten runs on nine hits to help the Nats salvage a 10-4 win at BB&T Ballpark. Paul Demny, who had received virtually no run support in his first five starts, finally got the backing of the Nationals’ offense and earned his first victory in the finale of a seven-game road trip.

Potomac (12-20), which had been held to 13 hits in the first two games combined, managed to put runs on the board early in the game without a lot of base hits. In the second inning, Andres Rienzo (1-1) walked the bases loaded with two outs. Eury Perez hit a ground ball to third that was booted by Jake Oester to get the Nationals on the board. Cutter Dykstra hit the next pitch into left field to push the Nats ahead 3-0.

The lead was short-lived. In his first at-bat with the Dash (14-19), Tyler Saladino hit a three-run home run to left field that knotted the score.

Ian Gac broke the tie with a leadoff homer in the fourth inning – an impressive opposite field blast.

But Potomac – who had sent just one more than the minimum to the plate against Rienzo in the third through fifth innings – sprung to life in the sixth. Destin Hood led off the frame with a double off the wall in center, before walks again burned Rienzo. He issued free passes to Justin Bloxom and Steven Souza. J.P. Ramirez then hit a line drive to left that tied the game at four. Sandy Leon and J.R. Higley both grounded to second to drive in runs and Potomac led 6-4. Eury Perez’s two-out single stretched the lead to three.

In the seventh, Jose Lozada led off with a single and stole second base. Bloxom then hit a ball to first. Andy Wilkins made a spectacular diving stop, but bobbled on the run to the bag and kicked the ball into the infield. Lozada alertly raced home to make it 8-4.

Demny settled in for the fifth and sixth. He struck out a Dash hiter in each inning and saw only one ball leave the infield. For the evening, he struck out six and allowed four runs on just four hits.

Potomac got some insurance in the ninth. A one-out single from Lozada was cashed in when Bloxom rocketed a two-out triple off the wall in right. Bloxom would cap the scoring when he trotted home on a passed ball.

After an off day, the Nationals welcome the Wilmington Blue Rocks to Pfitzner Stadium for a three game set beginning Friday at 7:05 p.m.

Cameron Selik makes his second start for Potomac against Tim Melville.

Will Flemming is the broadcast director for the Potomac Nationals.