Randolph Oduber homered twice, while Matt Spann put on just two baserunners over six shutout innings as Potomac rolled to its fifth straight win, 10-2 over Winston-Salem.
The Groovin’ Aruban drove in six runs total with a three-run blast off the scoreboard in left-center to highlight Potomac’s five-run 3rd, an RBI groundout in the 4th, and a two-run shot to right in the 8th. The six RBIs were a career-best in a single game for the 2010 32nd Rd. pick out of Western Oklahoma State College.
Meanwhile, Matthew Spann quietly and efficiently dispatched the Dash with nobody reaching second base as Keon Barnum, who rapped a clean single up the middle with one out in the 2nd, watched his teammates fly out twice. Zach Voight got plunked an inning later but was out two full strides as Tony Renda had to wait for him to slide before he could apply the tag.
The next ten Winston-Salem batters trotted back into the dugout as Spann would not let another runner reach. Spann would issue no walks and strike out four while earning his eighth win for Potomac and tenth win overall for the 2014 campaign.
Offensively, Ike Ballou was also a force for the Woodbridge nine, beginning with a two-run triple that preceded the Oduber bomb in the 3rd, then connecting for an RBI double in the 4th, and a single in the 5th. He would walk in his final plate appearance to finish the proverbial triple shy of the cycle while improving his line to .356/.396/.667 in his first 10 games at High-A.
The series concludes this afternoon as Ian Dickson (3-8, 5.27) faces off against top White Sox pick Carlos “Didn’t I Just Sign For You?” Rodon (0-0, 6.00). Potomac will then make the drive down I-81 to take on the Salem Red Sox for three over the weekend, then return to the Pfitz for three more next Tuesday through Thursday.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK: Like an annoying neighbor, Lynchburg just won’t go away as the Hillcats have strung together three straight wins to remain three behind the P-Nats. Wilmington has fallen to five games back. Myrtle Beach has also reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Southern Division by a game over Winston-Salem, two and a half over Carolina.