CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats come back in dramatic fashion

Published on April 12, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The fireworks show just beyond the right field wall after the game at Pfitzner Stadium metaphorically summed up Saturday night's contest. In dramatic fashion, the Potomac Nationals (6-2) erased a 7-0 deficit storming past the Kinston Indians for an 8-7 win in 11 innings. Chris Marrero's two-out bloop single off Neil Wagner (0-1) to shallow right field knocked in Matt Rogelstad and sealed the victory for the P-Nats, who have now won six straight and their first five games at home.

Potomac starter Ross Detwiler had a short-lived evening lasting only 4 1/3 innings while allowing four runs and five hits. Left-hander Jack Spradlin replaced Detwiler and surrendered seven hits to the first nine hitters he faced and three runs before getting relieved by Carlos Martinez in the sixth inning. By the bottom of the sixth, Kinston led 7-0.

However, trailing 7-1 in the bottom of the seventh the P-Nats began their offensive uprising. After Kinston starter Steven Wright pitched six solid innings allowing just one run on four hits he was replaced by Erik Stiller. Unlike Wright, Stiller unraveled and the Indians lead quickly evaporated. The first three Nationals hitters in the inning reached base, and right fielder Jerad Head could not handle a routine fly ball off the bat of Devin Ivany allowing a run to score cutting Kinston's lead to 7-3. It would not be the only costly error by an Indians outfielder during the game. The P-Nats followed the error with two consecutive run scoring singles by Seth Bynum and Matt Rogelstad capping off the four-run inning.

The Nationals crowned their seemingly improbable comeback by scoring two more runs in the eighth off right-handed reliever Luis Perdomo. Another Kinston error, this time by Perdomo allowed Marvin Lowrance to reach base to start a rally, and Edgardo Baez followed with a walk. The Indians though, continued to hurt themselves defensively. Cirilo Cumberbatch's two-hit night at the plate could not make up for dropping Devin's Ivany's wind blown fly ball in center field which allowed two runs to score and tied the game at seven.

Potomac once again received strong bullpen performances from Carlos Martinez, Josh Wilkie, and Zech Zinicola, who combined to pitch 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. Their efforts helped stall the Indians offense. Zinicola (1-0) earned the win by pitching innings 10 and 11, and has not allowed a run in his first three appearances of 2008, a span of 5 2/3 innings.

Dating back to 2007 the Nationals have won 13 straight games at Pfitzner Stadium. Potomac will try for their second sweep of the season tomorrow versus Kinston. Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.00), making his second start of the season is scheduled to face Hector Rondon (0-0, 0.00), who has yet to pitch in 2008. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from April 12, 2008


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