Potomac 2, Winston-Salem 1
W: Joan Baez (3-8)
L: Kelvis Valerio (3-5)
S: Jordan Mills (2)
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (Aug. 20, 2017) – Joan Baez and two Potomac relievers held the Dash to three hits and one unearned run in Sunday’s finale, while the P-Nats offense needed just one scoring frame to snag a 2-1, series-clinching victory over Winston-Salem in Sunday’s series finale from Pfitzner Stadium.
Baez (3-8) spun five innings for Potomac (26-29, 59-66), allowing the lone unearned tally on two hits while striking out seven, tying a season high. Mariano Rivera III and Jordan Mills combined to pitch the final four frames, ceding one hit and fanning four as Mills picked up his second save with Potomac. The Nationals set down 14 of the final 15 Dash batters that came to the plate.
Winston-Salem (26-31, 50-77) plated its unearned run in the second, as Baez walked Matt Rose and Jameson Fisher before Louis Silverio reached on an errant throw by Baez to first. Two batters later, Sam Dexter lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Rose and closing Potomac’s lead to one.
Dexter and Bryant Flete collected two of the Dash’s three hits on a pair of singles in the fifth, while Fisher stroked the only other knock in the ninth against Mills. Winston-Salem was not able to produce a baserunner between Flete’s hit in the fifth and Fisher’s single in the ninth.
As they did in Saturday’s game, the P-Nats cracked the scoreboard in the opening frame. After Kelvis Valerio (3-5) retired the first two men he faced in the first, Austin Davidson singled and Taylor Gushue worked a walk to put runners at first and second with two down. The next batter Jake Noll roped a two-out, two-run double to left to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish.
Following a league-wide off day, the Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday to begin their final homestand of 2017 with a three-game series against the Carolina Mudcats. Winston-Salem sends right-hander Alec Hansen (3-5, 2.87 ERA), who has struck out at least 11 batters in three of his last four starts, to the mound against Carolina righty Marcos Diplan (6-7, 5.23 ERA). Play-by-play coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. and will be available on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Dash’s final homestand doubles as “Fan Appreciation Week”, presented by North Davidson Veterinary Hospital, with two promotions on tap for each of the remaining contests. Tuesday’s promotions include a Two for $22 deal, where fans can purchase two infield box seats and two Pepsi soda products for just $22 by calling the Dash in advance at (336) 714-2287. Each game during this final home stretch at BB&T Ballpark will also be a Pups in the Park Night, with Pooch Passes available for just $5. Proceeds from Pooch Passes go to a local animal-related charity.
Other promotions during Fan Appreciation Week include an All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night on Wednesday, Warthogs Night on Thursday and a PTI Airport Fireworks show on Friday. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
