Four-run eighth fatal to Potomac

Just when it seemed the Potomac Nationals would win their first game this season, the Salem Avalanche did something to win their second.

Salem scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Potomac 5-4 and drop the Nationals to 0-2 on Saturday evening.

Nationals relief pitcher Adam Carr replaced Yunior Novoa, who carried Potomac through the seventh inning. Nova pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout.

Carr began the eighth by hitting Cesar Quintero. Quintero scored on a double by the next batter, Tim Torres. That cut Potomac’s lead to 4-2.

Torres scored on James Van Ostrand’s double and Van Ostrand scored on a throwing error by Nationals second baseman Matt Rogelstad.

Josh Wilkie replaced Carr and inherited a bases-loaded, no-out situation. A sacrifice fly by Koby Clemens allowed the winning run to score.

Potomac scored two second inning runs on a single by Brian Peacock.

Dee Brown scored Potomac’s third run in the fourth on an Edgardo Baez groundout.

Frank Diaz scored the Nationals’ final run in the top of the eighth on Brown’s single. Brown was then thrown out at second base trying to stretch that single into a double.

In the top of the ninth, Baez doubled, but was picked off second base. Seth Bynum and Peacock both popped out to end the game.

Potomac received five innings from starting pitcher Cory VanAllen. He allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out three.

Rogelstad, Diaz and Brown went 2-for-4 for Potomac, who managed 11 hits.

Torres was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.