Potomac 6, Winston-Salem 2 (F/7)
W: Austen Williams (1-3)
L: Zach Thompson (1-1)
S: None
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (July 23, 2016) – Big league rehabber Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a three-run homer in the first, and Potomac cruised from there in a 6-2 victory over Winston-Salem in Saturday’s doubleheader opener at Pfitzner Stadium.
In his third game on a rehab stint with the P-Nats (18-9, 52-43), Zimmerman blasted the first pitch he saw from Dash starter Zach Thompson (1-1) to dead center field for his 13th career Minor League homer. He has 212 home runs in his 12-season Washington Nationals career.
Raudy Read’s two-run double pushed Potomac’s advantage to five in the third, and Bryan Mejia followed with a leadoff homer in the fourth to make it 6-0. Thompson allowed all six of Potomac’s runs over his four-inning outing in his first High-A defeat.
Winston-Salem (12-16, 40-58) made it interesting with a pair of runs in the fifth. High Point native Landon Lassiter led off with double, and Gerson Montilla snapped an 0-for-12 funk with a single. Mason Robbins plated Lassiter on a fielder’s choice and scored on a Zack Collins opposite-field double to make it 6-2 Potomac. Collins, the White Sox top pick in last month’s MLB Draft, has nine RBIs in his first eight games with the Dash.
However, the Dash stranded eight and scored just two runs despite 11 base hits, with all of this action taking place against Potomac starter Austen Williams (1-3). Williams posted his second career complete game by throwing 90 pitches.
Eight of Winston-Salem’s nine hitters delivered at least one hit. Robbins chimed in with his team-leading 33rd multi-hit game.
The nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at approximately 7:35 p.m. from Pfitzner Stadium. Kelvis Valerio (3-3, 4.70 ERA) toes the rubber for Winston-Salem against fellow righty Trey Lambert (0-0, 4.63 ERA). Play-by-play coverage is available on wsdash.com/broadcast and the TuneIn Radio App.
The Dash return home Monday for a seven-game homestand that features an All-You-Can-Eat Night on Tuesday, a Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday and a Fireworks Friday, presented by Mast General Store. For tickets, call the Baker Roofing Box Office at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
