CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac rides four-run second to victory, claim league's best overall record

Published on June 27, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- If the Potomac Nationals have nothing to play for in the second half of the season, someone forgot to tell them. The P-Nats scored four of their six runs in the second inning and held on to take the second game of a three-game series against fellow first half division champ Myrtle Beach 6-4 on Friday night at BB&T Coastal Field.

While the Nationals offense was held in check for the first six innings of last night's contest, it wasted little time in jumping on All-Star right-hander Ryne Reynoso (6-6) tonight.

Edgardo Baez and Bill Rhinehart reached on back-to-back singles to open up the second inning. After a strikeout of Marvin Lowrance, Reynoso gave up a base hit to Brian Finegan, his first as a P-Nat, scoring Baez with the game's first run. Francisco Plasencia followed with a RBI single and Jhonatan Solano drove in run with a sacrifice fly to put Potomac up 3-0. Michael Martinez doubled with two outs in the frame scoring Plasencia and giving the P-Nats a 4-0 advantage.

After seeing Potomac starter Jhonny Nunez (2-6) cruise through the Myrtle Beach order through the first four frames allowing only one hit, the Pelicans would strike against the 22-year-old in the fifth. Concepcion Rodriguez and Jon Mark Owings hit back-to-back home runs to open the inning and trim the lead to 4-2.

Myrtle Beach would add another run in sixth against Potomac reliever Carlos Martinez. With runners at the corners and no outs, Tyler Flowers hit a ground ball behind second base that was knocked down by Michael Martinez; however, the shortstop could not get the ball out of his glove in time as Brandon Hicks slid into second ahead of the throw and Ernesto Mejia scored from third to make it a 4-3 game.

The Nationals would distance themselves for good in the top of the eight as Lowrance groved a RBI double to right and scored on a fielding error by Hicks to put Potomac up 6-3.

Things got interesting in the ninth as a Michael Martinez error and three walks put the winning run on base for the Pelicans, but Martin Beno struck out Mejia with the bases loaded to earn his fifth save in as many tries and send the P-Nats home victorious.

With the win Potomac stands alone atop the Carolina League with the best overall record at 49-29 and also has the best second half mark of any team at 7-1.

The Potomac Nationals will go for the sweep of Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Saturday night as left-hander Ross Detwiler (5-4) takes to the mound for the P-Nats opposite fellow left-hander Scott Diamond (5-1). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from June 27, 2008


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