The Potomac Nationals rallied for four in the bottom of the 4th to erase an early 1-0 deficit and even the four-game series with the Carolina Mudcats with a rain-shortened 4-1 victory.
Carolina stuck for its run in the 1st on a leadoff walk, a steal, and an advance to third on a flyout to right field. Starter Phillips Valdez nearly squirmed out of the jam with a strikeout to the No. 3 batter before giving up an RBI single to cleanup man Carlo Franco and a subsequent safety to the #5 batter Jose Briceno.
He would then settle down to retire five straight before giving up a one-out single in the 3rd, four straight before surrendering a two-out double in the 4th, then six straight before play was halted.
Potomac stranded runners in each of the first three innings before Spencer Kieboom led off the 4th with a single, took third on a one-out single by John Wooten, and scored on a Brandon Miller double, which tied the game at 1-1.
Adrian Sanchez sent in the game-winner on a grounder to second, but the insurance runs came on what initially appeared to be an inside-the-park HR by Estarlin Martinez, but later (correctly) changed to a triple and an error as Martinez scampered home when Carolina right fielder Sean Godfrey booted the ball in right-center.
The rain, which began to spit in the bottom of the 4th, eventually forced the game’s end with two outs in the 6th. The win would go to Valdez, who allowed just the one run on four hits and one walk while striking six.
The series continues tonight with a matchup of Reynaldo Lopez (4-3, 4.85) vs. Andrew Waszak (4-4, 3.29) for Carolina.