Potomac Nationals Lose Series Against Wilmington Blue Rocks

The Potomac Nationals capped off a three-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks with a 7-5 victory tonight at Pfitzner Stadium. Despite tonight's win, the Nationals lost the series 2-1.

The series started off in a dramatic, extra innings affair in the first game with Wilmington winning in 14 innings. Our Potomac Nationals looked good through the first eight innings, winning 3-1 at the time, but a struggling bullpen let them down again.

This time, Justin Phillabaum failed to record an out in the ninth inning while giving up the game-tying two runs. The Nationals failed to respond in the bottom of the ninth inning -- as well as the extra innings --  as Wilmington's bullpen delivered eight shutout innings.

The game was ultimately won in the 14th inning by a two-run triple by Ernesto Mejia, who also had a homerun and five RBIs total. The Nationals lost 6-3 in 14 innings.

A virtuoso pitching performance from the Blue Rocks' Will Smith headlined the second game of the Nationals verses the Blue Rocks series. Smith submitted eight shutout innings, with one ball hit, while also striking out 12 players and walking no one. Smith was helped out on offense as Blue Rocks' right fielder Nicholas Francis and third basemen Eddie Prasch both hit homeruns in the game.

The Nationals tried to make the game competitive in the ninth inning, scoring two runs against Blue Rocks reliever Kevin Chapman, but it was too late. The Nationals lost again 4-2.

In the final game of the series, the Potomac Nationals avoided a three-game sweep with a 7-5 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Bill Rhinehart, who made two hits out of four at-bats, also hit a grand slam in the fifth inning that led the Nationals on offense. The Nationals were down four runs early, but thanks to Rinehart and five runs scored in the fifth inning, the P-Nets pulled ahead for good.

The Potomac Nationals open up a new series on the road against the Frederick Keys this Friday.