CarL1 Potomac Nationals

P-Nats Come from Behind to Level Playoff Series

Published on September 9, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


(FREDERICK, MD) The Potomac Nationals rode the bottom third of their order and dominant bullpen pitching to a 5-4 comeback victory in Frederick that evened the Northern Division Championship Series at a game apiece.

Potomac fell behind on two occasions early in the game. Just when it looked like the Nats' season was on the ropes, however, their resilient offense responded. They scored four unanswered runs and watched their bullpen overpower the Keys and hold them off the scoreboard for the game's final five innings.

The last three hitters on Gary Cathcart's lineup card were instrumental in the effort; they went 8 for 11 with three runs scored and four RBIs.

Robbie Jacobsen had a diabolical night. A base-running blunder in the third inning - after the first of his four hits - robbed the Nats of a glorious scoring chance. Sean Nicol roped a ball off the glove of Ronnie Welty in deep right field. Jacobsen, thinking the ball was caught, raced back to first, passed Nicol and handed the Keys a double play that cleared the bases.

In the fourth, Jacobsen's error at third keyed three unearned runs that staked Frederick to a 4-1 lead. But Jacobsen answered right back in the fifth. Jamar Walton led off the frame with a single to center and scored on Jacobsen's triple to deep center. Robbie would score on Nicol's triple to right. Chris Curran then hit a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game at four.

In the seventh, Curran struck again. Walton again reached to open the inning on an erorr by Buck Britton at first but was picked off by the catcher Brian Ward. Jacobsen then notched his third hit of the night on a bounding ball to the right side of the infield. Nicol singled down the right field line to put runners at the corners with one out for Curran. Curran smoked a ball to center field that scored Jacobsen and gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead.

The bullpen did the rest.

Zach Dials pitched three perfect innings for the save, in support of a solid start from Trevor Holder and a scoreless inning from Rob Wort, who got the win for Potomac.

The Nats loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs, but the Keys struck out the top three in the Potomac order to head to the bottom of the ninth down just one. But a 1-2-3 inning from Dials that included his second and third strikeouts closed the door and sent the series back to Woodbridge tied.

The two clubs tussle in Game Three at 7:03 at Pfitzner Stadium. Jimmy Barthmaier squares off against Zach Clark. The broadcast can be heard beginning at 6:40.

Due to the popularity of the Belly Buster promotion during the 2010 season, the P-Nats have rolled the remarkable plan into the postseason. Fans can purchase the entire Playoff Package for just $60.

This is a $30 discount (or 2 FREE games) from the individual price of a Belly Buster Ticket. For each game, fans get a game ticket for any available seat in the stadium, and all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs and popcorn. Individual game tickets - which all include the Belly Buster add-on - are available for $15.

Call the ticket office now at 703-590-2311 and Join the Playoff Party!

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Carolina League Stories from September 9, 2010


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