Ninth-inning rally gives Potomac victory

The loud music was cranked up in the Potomac Nationals’ clubhouse and the talk among the players was also loud.
A come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks completed a three-game sweep and allowed the Nationals to let off some steam.
“Baseball’s like surfing,” Nationals outfielder Aaron Seuss said. “You just ride the wave.”
Potomac’s three-run ninth inning confirms the strategy pitching coach Randy Tomlin and hitting coach Jerry Browne take with their pitchers and hitters during close games pays off.
“Jerry and Randy keep them motivated,” Potomac manager Randy Knorr said. “They keep them focused. They always let them know they still have a chance to win. They give them a plan when they go up to the plate and when they go out to the mound.”
In winning its first game this year when trailing after eight innings, Potomac has three straight wins on the seven-game homestand.
The comeback started when Darryl Lawhorn singled. Then Jhonatan Solano whacked his first home run as a Potomac National, his first since April 15 as a member of the Low-A Hagerstown Suns, tying the score at six.
“I was looking for a good pitch to hit,” Solano said.
Boomer Whiting followed with a single, hitting a two-strike pitch up the middle that went off Wilmington shortstop Chris McConnell’s glove and into shallow center field.
Whiting then stole second base. He broke for third when Michael Martinez bunted. Wilmington reliever Tyler Chambliss threw the ball over first baseman Anthony Seratelli’s head and down the right field line.
Whiting rounded third, scored and joined his teammates in celebration at home plate.
“We know we’ve got a good squad,” Whiting said.
Potomac starting pitcher Hassan Pena, making his second Carolina League start, was good, not great.
He began the game by walking Derrick Robinson, but Robinson was tagged out in a rundown as he leaned too far off first base.
Pena then hit McConnell before surrendering a two-run home run to former Potomac Cannon Brad Correll.
Then Pena settled in. He worked slowly to the first few batters he faced, but did what he could to keep Potomac in the game.
Pena forced Robinson to ground out to stymie a two-on, two-out second inning threat. Robinson was the second of six straight batters Pena retired.
Pena caught another break in the third when Seratelli lined a pitch into the glove of first baseman Andrew Lefave, who tagged first base for a three unassisted double play.
But trouble resurfaced in the sixth. Cody Strait’s single was followed by a Kurt Mertins two run home run that gave the Blue Rocks a 4-1 lead.
Pena left after five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two.
“He goes out there and keeps us in the game,” Knorr said. “He needs to work a little better.”
The Nationals trimmed Wilmington’s edge to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth on Lefave’s two-run home run.
Potomac (63-45 overall, 21-17 second half) tied the score in the bottom of the seventh as Whiting scored on a Dan Lyons single.
But Wilmington countered with two eighth inning runs off Nationals reliever Clint Everts. Mertins scored on Jeff Bianchi’s double.
Bianchi went to third when Seratelli grounded out and came home on Matt Morizio’s single.