Quick Notes: Game Preview: RHP Jackson Rutledge takes the mound to break the skid and build on the longest start of his professional career

RHP Jackson Rutledge will get the start tonight for the Fredericksburg Nationals. Here is a game preview for August 6, 2022.

by Richard Wachtel

Updated August 06, 2022

After winning two straight one-run games to start the series, the Fredericksburg Nationals have lost two in a row, including being walked off for the first time all season last night in the 10th inning in a 10-9 loss.

With the loss, the team falls to 6-2 in extra-inning games, and the streak of each game ending in 10 innings continues. Jackson Rutledge starts tonight for the Fredericksburg Nationals. The Nationals' No. 6 overall prospect will look to build on the longest and best start of his professional career - 8 innings of one-run ball against Salem his last time out.

After winning the first two games in the series by one run each, the Fredericksburg Nationals have dropped the last two to the Down East Wood Ducks. 2019 first-round pick and top-10 prospect Jackson Rutledge toes the rubber trying to break the skid and build on the longest start of his professional career his last time out. The Fredericksburg Nationalsstill have a comfortable 7.0 game lead in the North Division.

RHP Jackson Rutledge

Returning Fredericksburg Nationals, Jackson Rutledge, the 17th overall pick by the Nationals in the 2019 draft, makes his first start of August, coming off the best start of his professional career to finish off July. Against the Salem Red Sox, Rutledge pitched eight innings of one-run ball to win for the fourth time this season. That start was the longest start by a Fredericksburg Nationals this year and the second longest start in franchise history since the club moved to Fredericksburg. Rutledge has struggled more on the road than he has at home this year but is coming off his best road start of the season before the All-Star break at Augusta.

LAST SEASON:

Rutledge pitched for three different teams in 2022, including the FredNats. He finished the year in High-A Wilmington but logged 22.0 innings with Fredericksburg last year, recording a 1-2 record with a 5.32 ERA.

Last night

OF James Wood, acquired in the Juan Soto trade from the San Diego Padres, made a big splash in his FredNat debut last night. Wood went 4-for-6 with 3 RBIs, including a two-run home run to left center field. The Fredericksburg Nationals fell behind 6-0 after two innings last night but eventually fought back to take a one-run lead going into the 9th. Down East was able to tie the game in the 9th after a controversial call at first base extended the game, and the Wood Ducks eventually did win the game with a walk-off single in the 10th.