Sports

Final Score: Potomac Nationals Against Lynchburg Hillcats in Opener

Friday's game included 16 hits from the Nationals as they took on the Carolina League Champions.

Release, Potomac Nationals:

Woodbridge, VA—As Opening Day became Opening Night at Pfitzner Stadium on Friday evening, the Potomac Nationals already had the game well in hand en route to a 12-1 victory over the defending Carolina League Champion, Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves). The P-Nats used 16 hits and maximize Lynchburg’s defensive miscues to bury the Hillcats.

After the 1st inning, the Lynchburg Hillcats had scored first with an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of 1B William Beckwith.

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Then, with two outs, and no one on base in the bottom of the 1st, righty swinger SS Jason Martinson blasted a solo home run to the opposite field in his first at-bat of the 2013 season to tie the game.

Nationals LHP Robbie Ray (1-0) was stellar in his Opening Day start, ushering in the 36th campaign in Potomac franchise history with 5.0 solid innings in which he allowed just one unearned run on three hits, while walking one, and fanning five.

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The P-Nats erupted for six runs on eight consecutive hits off Hillcats starting pitcher, RHP Navery Moore (0-1) in the bottom of the 2nd inning which was underscored by a two-run triple by CF Michael Taylor to take a 7-1 lead.

Potomac tacked on two additional runs in the 4th frame when C Adrian Nieto, who finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored, led off with a double to the center field wall off RHP Jarrett Miller before the Nationals blew open their lead even further with a trio of runs off LHP Ronan Pacheco in the 8th frame courtesy of a pair of Lynchburg errors and a bases loaded RBI walk by 1B Kevin Keyes, who was the lone P-Nat without a base hit in the game.   

Lynchburg committed five errors in the field during the game and the Nationals went 7-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

In Game Two of the three-game weekend series, RHP Taylor Jordan (NR, 0.00) will get the ball for the Potomac Nationals against Lynchburg’s RHP A.J. Holland (NR, 0.00) in a Saturday night contest that begins at 6:35pm with gates to The Pfitz opening at 5:00pm.

Quinn's Goldsmith will present a Magnet Schedule Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2013 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. Renew your season tickets at Pfitzner Stadium for only $50 per seat. Sponsorship opportunities for the ‘13 season are now available. Plan your corporate outing now in preparation for next season as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 for more.


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