Grant Borne turned in seven strong innings while the offense delivered in the clutch as Potomac evened up the four-game series at one game apiece with a 4-1 win.
Borne, who will not be confused with Aroldis Chapman on the radar gun, kept the Blue rocks off balance by throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count. The 23-y.o. gave up just two hits: a infield single in the 3rd and a one-out double that converted the one walk he issued into Wilmington’s only run.
For four and half innings, though, Blue Rocks pitcher Jared Ruxer was Borne’s equal as the two hosted a Star Trek convention on the Pfitzner scoreboard with nine zeroes.
Potomac got on the board first as Edwin Lora singled with one out, stole second, and scored on Jack Sundberg’s two-out single. Austin Davidson delivered the second run with a single threaded between the left-field foul line and Wilmington’s third baseman, but ended the rally as he tripped and fell between first and second ande made it easy for the Blue rocks to end the inning on a 7-5-3 putout.
After Wilmington cut the lead in half in the top of the 6th, Potomac got the run back on leadoff walk and a two-out double by David Masters. The P-Nats extended the lead to 4-1 in the 7th with a pair of doubles by Rhett Wiseman and Davidson, who made it to second standing up.
Dakota Bacus was summoned to close out the game and the 26-y.o. veteran delivered with two perfect innings to earn the save, his third of the season.
Game three of the four-game series is this afternoon as Austen Williams makes his second return trip from Harrisburg in as many seasons. He’ll be opposed by Cristian Castillo (5-4, 2.84) for Wilmington.