Potomac Nationals Drop Series Finale to Frederick Keys 6-2 - Advanced A, Carolina League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com – FREDERICK, Md.— Potomac Nationals hitting coach Jerry Browne had seen enough by the top of the sixth inning Sunday afternoon. After Chris Marrero took what he thought was ball four, Browne boiled over and was ejected by home plate umpire Drew Ashcraft capping a frustrating afternoon for the P-Nats who dropped the series finale in Frederick, 6-2.

The game got off to a great start for the Nationals against Keys starter Brandon Erbe (3-1) as Matt Rogelstad extended his hit streak to six games with a solo home run to right field in the top of the first inning. It was Rogelstad’s second home run of the season giving Potomac (14-7) a 1-0 lead.

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Frederick (13-9) wasted little time in answering off of P-Nat starter Jhonny Nunez (0-3). Paul Winterling led off the bottom of the second with his first home run of the year to tie the game at one. With the bases empty and one out, Mike Pierce and Jason White hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. Nunez then self-destructed throwing a pair of wild pitches allowing Pierce to score the go-ahead run and give the Keys a 2-1 lead.

The Keys would put the game away in the bottom of the fourth inning as with two runners on base and a run already in, first baseman Chris Vinyard unloaded for the three-run shot off of Nunez to center field making it a 6-1 game. It was Vinyard’s third homer of the season.

Nunez suffered his shortest outing of the season, giving up six runs on eight hits, all highs for a Potomac starter, in just four innings. He also threw three wild pitches and hit two batters.

Edgardo Baez hit his third home run, a solo shot, in the top of the ninth inning for the Nationals’ other run.

The lone bright spot in the game for the P-Nats was another tremendous effort by the bullpen as Carlos Martinez and Adam Carr combined for four scoreless frames. Winterling’s leadoff infield single off of Carr in the bottom of the eighth inning snapped a streak of 21 consecutive batters retired by the Nationals pen in the series; however, Carr retired the next three hitters in order.

The victory by Frederick pulled the Keys to within 1 1/2 games of Potomac for the lead in the Carolina League Northern Division.

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