CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals Game Notes

Published on April 10, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


POTOMAC NATIONALS (3-2) VS. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (3-3)

RHP JHONNY NUNEZ (0-1, 7.71) VS. RHP DEUNTE HEATH (1-0, 1.80)

April 10, 2008 -- 7:05 p.m.

G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium

Game #6/Home #3

Internet Webcast -- www.potomacnationals.com

TONIGHT: The Potomac Nationals and Myrtle Beach Pelicans meet in the final game of a three-game series. Potomac claimed the series with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory last night. Jemel Spearman's line drive into left-center field with the bases loaded capped a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. A win tonight would give the P-Nats a sweep of the Pelicans, a feat they had to wait until June 4 to accomplish last season.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: Potomac Nationals right-hander Jhonny Nunez gets a second chance to make a first impression as he makes his second start tonight and first at home. In his first outing, the fifth-year pro worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings before the Salem Avalanche scored four runs aided by a pair of infield singles. The 22-year-old has appeared in more games (60) than any other Potomac starter. The next closest is tomorrow night's starter Cory VanAllen with 38. He'll be opposed by Myrtle Beach right-hander Deunte Heath who picked up the win in his first start of the season. The former Tennessee Volunteer gave up just one run on two hits in five innings against the Wilmington Blue Rocks this past Saturday. He struggled a bit with control, walking three batters and hitting one. The Georgia-native made his Carolina League debut last season at Pfitzner Stadium on July 5. In that outing, he gave up three runs on five hits in five innings, striking out six and walking five. Heath has struggled overall in his two starts against the P-Nats, both coming at the Pfitz, allowing seven runs in just six innings (10.50 ERA). Marvin Lowrance homered off of Heath in the first inning of the second game of a double header a year ago (8/26/07).

PELI-CANTS: Myrtle Beach has not found the confines at Pftizner Stadium that friendly as it has dropped 10 of its last 12 to the Potomac at the Pfitz, including the last eight in-a-row. The Pelicans, who lost eight of 10 to the Nationals in 2007, are 13-18 against the P-Nats since 2005 aided only by an 8-2 record in 2006.

FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC: Of the 19 runs the Potomac Nationals have scored through five games this season, 14 have come with two outs in an inning including all four last night. The club is hitting a league-best .474 (9-for-19) with runners in scoring position and two outs. The second most clutch team in the CL is Salem, hitting .435 (10-for-23).

SLUMP BUSTIN': With his home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, top prospect Chris Marrero broke out of a 0-for-9 drought at the plate. He struck out in five of the nine at-bats. The 19-year-old was hitting just .154 (2-for-13) prior to the homer. Jemel Spearman picked an opportunistic time to get his hit and RBI as a member of the Washington Nationals organization. The former Chicago Cubs farmhand was hitless in his first six at-bats as a P-Nat. The 27-year-old drew a walk on 14 pitches in the bottom of the eight to help extend the inning for Marrero's eventual game-tying homer.

PUT UP ANOTHER W-ASHINGTON: The Potomac Nationals three wins on the season all belong to pitchers with big league experience and all are on the 40-man roster. Lefty Ross Detwiler, who appeared in one game for Washington last September, picked up the win on Sunday afternoon in Salem. Major League rehabbers Shawn Hill and Chad Cordero each picked up wins the past two nights. The trio did not surrender a run in 11 innings on the mound.

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