Pitching carries Potomac

Josh Wilkie loves being in pressure situations. Pitchers focus better when they are constantly in those situations.
“It’s easy to lose your concentration when you’re up 10 runs,” the Potomac Nationals relief pitcher said. “It’s kind of fun when the pressure’s on you.”
The pressure has certainly been on Potomac’s pitchers since April 21. But they continue to come through despite an offense that has produced three runs or less in nine of its last 10 games and been held hitless on one occasion.
Adrian Alaniz, Jack Spradlin, Wilkie and Adam Carr combined to allow one run on four hits in a 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Frederick Keys on Thursday.
“That’s the only reason we’re winning right now, because our pitching is very good,” Potomac manager Randy Knorr said.
Alaniz was perfect through the first three innings. He recorded eight strikeouts and issued just two walks in six innings.
Spradlin retired all three hitters he faced and Carr fanned Billy Rowell with runners on second and third in the ninth in a 1-1 game.
“It’s fun when we’re feeding off each other,” said Wilkie, who allowed two hits and had a strike-out in one and two-thirds innings. “It’s like the next guy comes in and is feeding off the other. The ability to limit runs is what it’s all about.”
The quartet’s gem follows that of Cory VanAllen and Carr, who two nights earlier combined to toss a two-hit shutout.
Starter Jordan Zimmermann and relievers Carlos Martinez and Zech Zinicola combined for a 1-0 shutout of Winston-Salem on Wednesday.
“They’re getting ahead of hitters,” Knorr said. “They’re trusting their stuff and the catchers are doing a nice job with them.”
Meanwhile, Knorr sees his batters pressing at the plate.
“We’ve got to get them to relax,” Knorr said. “They’re putting pressure on themselves to get hits.”
That strategy is not working. The Nationals (18-7) managed only four hits and only two hitters reached base via a walk.
Potomac’s Matt Rogelstad went 0 for 4 and showed his frustration by throwing his bat down in disgust on two occasions.
Not to worry though. Slumps such as these are part of baseball.
“The offense will come,” Davis said. “The pitchers are doing a great job. Right now we’re strug-gling with hits. That’s how baseball goes.”
Potomac scored the winning run when Frederick pitcher Ryan Ouellette made an errant throw to third base trying to get Davis. Davis was on second base and broke for third when Edgardo Baez bunted toward the mound.
Frederick took advantage of two Potomac errors to score the game’s first run in the top of the fourth inning.
Chris Amador reached first base on an offline throw by Nationals shortstop Seth Bynum. Amador stole second and moved to third when Nationals catcher Brian Peacock threw the ball into center field trying to try to gun him down.
Amador crossed the plate on a Matt Wieters groundout.
Potomac retaliated with a run in its half of the fourth when Chris Marrero came home on a Davis double.