Lopez delivers win in first high Single-A start for Potomac; Janssen begins rehab

The Nationals' No. 3 prospect right-hander Reynaldo Lopez provided a solid debut with high Single-A Potomac on Thursday. Lopez threw five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Potomac victory in Game 1 over the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va.

In Game 2, right-hander Casey Janssen tossed one scoreless inning to begin his rehab from shoulder tendinitis.

Lopez fired 54 pitches, 37 for strikes, and hit 98 mph velocity with his fastball according to P-Nats media relations. He allowed two hits and set down the first eight batters he faced before surrendering a base hit in the third inning. He walked none and struck out three batters.

A John Wooten single in the first gave the P-Nats the early 1-0 advantage. Christopher Bostick provided a RBI triple in the sixth extending the lead to 2-0. Dakota Bacus went two innings and allowed just one run to preserve the victory, earning his third save. The victory snapped a four-game P-Nats skid.

It is a very good start for Lopez as he ventures up a level for the first time. Lopez went 4-1 with a 1.33 ERA in nine starts for low Single-A Hagerstown in 2014. The 21-year-old struck out 70 batters and walked only 26 in 16 overall outings last season between short-season Auburn and Hagerstown.

Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis commented last week how impressed he was to see Lopez hit 98 mph while he was working out alongside him at the Nationals training facility in Viera, Fla., last month. Lopez was able to hit that mark again Thursday.

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, is scheduled to make his Carolina League and P-Nats debut tonight at 7:05 p.m., against the Frederick Keys at Pfitzner Stadium. The 2012 first-round selection had his last South Atlantic League outing August 16.

The first 2,000 fans who enter Pfitzner Stadium tonight will receive a limited edition official Lucas Giolito Potomac Nationals player card that are numbered from one to 2,000.

Giolito is ranked No. 1, Michael A. Taylor No. 2 and Lopez No. 3 in Baseball America's 2015 Top 10 Nationals prospects. Giolito and Lopez were recalled from extended spring training on Tuesday to make their high Single-A debuts this week.

It appears that Lopez (May 12) and Giolito (May 13) might make their second starts next week in Wilmington, Del., (a little less than two hours from D.C.) But if Giolito is pushed back two days, he could make his second start next week in Frederick, Md., just 50 miles from Nationals Park.

The P-Nats travel to face the Keys for a weekend series May 15-17.

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Janssen (shoulder) pitched one scoreless inning to begin Game 2 of the doubleheader to begin his rehab assignment. He threw nine pitches, all strikes, recording one strikeout. Janssen is scheduled to pitch again for the P-Nats on Sunday.