Potomac Nationals Edge Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4-3 - Adv A, Carolina League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Myrtle Beach, S.C - The Potomac Nationals bullpen completely shut down the Pelicans offensive attack from the sixth inning on. The Pelicans did not record a single hit in innings six, seven, eight or nine. A big home run by Marvin Lowrance and an insurance run in the third lifted the P-Nats to a 4-3 victory to level the series at one apiece.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Potomac Nationals started the game with a bang in the top of the first. Second baseman Jemel Spearman begin the game with a single. Spearman then stole second base and advanced to third on a misplayed groundball by Ernesto Mejia. The P-Nats had runners at the corners as Marvin Lowrance smashed a three-run homer over the right-center field wall.

The Pelicans responded immediately in second inning. After failing to decipher Potomac starter Adrian Alaniz in the first inning, the Pelicans broke through with a couple big hits. Ernesto Mejia led off the frame with a sharp single to left field. Brandon Powell followed by muscling an inside pitch over the right field wall for his second homer of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Potomac added the eventual game-winning run in the top of the third. Jemel Spearman once again opened an inning with a single. After he was sacrificed up to second, he came into score on an RBI single by third baseman Leonard Davis.

The Pelicans would inch within one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Flowers collected his 15^th RBI of the season by driving home Yohan Silva, who led off the inning with a walk.

The game ultimately fell into the hands of the P-Nats bullpen. Yunior Novoa and Carlos Martinez combined to dash any hopes of a Pelicans comeback. Novoa pitched two scoreless innings and fanned three, while Martinez slammed the door with two perfect innings of his own.

Adrian Alaniz picked up his third win of the season in five innings of work. The former Texas Longhorn allowed five hits and three runs. Deunte Heath was hit with his first loss of the season in seven innings of work. After a troublesome first inning, Heath settled in nicely, allowing only six total hits. Jeff Lyman was flawless in relief of Heath in the final two innings. He kept the P-Nats hitless and recorded three strikeouts.

Subcribe to MLN Sports Zone (SZ) the magazine of Minor League and Alternative Professional Sports for just $5.99! That's 50% off the full subscription price! Use discount code: BMR and SAVE 66% off of the Cover Price!!!