CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Blue Crew Victorious 7-3 in Series Opener

Published on May 14, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Woodbridge, VA- A terrific start from RHP Aaron Brooks (1-3), the winning pitcher, carried the Wilmington Blue Rocks (18-20, 10-12) to a 7-3 victory over the Potomac Nationals (20-18, 12-10) on Tuesday night at Pfitzner Stadium. The P-Nats have now dropped two straight contests.

Brooks went 6.2 stanzas and surrendered three earned runs on six hits while walking a pair and fanning one en route to his first win of the 2013 campaign after receiving a no decision against Potomac on May 9th at Frawley Stadium. In that start, Brooks tossed 7.0 innings and allowed two earned runs.

Brooks' opposition, Potomac RHP Rob Gilliam, who did not factor, made his Potomac Nationals 2013 debut after spending the start of the season on the disabled list, and tossed 4.0 quality innings allowing just one earned run on three hits. Gilliam walked a pair and fanned five.

Gilliam worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 1st inning by inducing strikeouts called against DH Jared Schlehuber and SS Jack Lopez.

Wilmington struck first with one run in the 4th inning as Schlehuber cranked a solo home run over both tiers of signage to dead center field, his first deep fly of the season. Schlehuber had a big night at the plate going 3-for-5 with three runs scored.

After a 15-inning scoreless drought that went back to Game Three of their series with the Winston-Salem Dash, Potomac grabbed a 3-1 lead in the 5th frame courtesy of an RBI sacrifice fly out to left field off the stick of CF Billy Burns with the bases loaded to score 3B Adrian Sanchez, who ripped a leadoff single to get aboard before SS Jason Martinson ripped a two-run double over the head of CF Lane Adams to the wall plating LF Randolph Oduber and 2B Wilmer Difo. Oduber had nailed a single into right field and Difo laid down a bunt single in front of the mound to reach base.

The Blue Rocks answered with three runs of their own in the 6th inning on an RBI single off the bat of C Kenny Swab into right field, a double-play ball rattled by LF Tyler Chism, and an RBI one-base knock laced by 2B Justin Trapp as part of a 3-for-5 showing at the plate.

All runs were charged to the losing pitcher, Potomac RHP Brian Dupra (0-2), who surrendered those three earned runs on five hits in 1.0 inning while walking one.

Nationals LHP Matt Grace (BS 3) allowed the three inherited base runners to score and Grace allowed two additional earned runs to be plated in the 7th inning on a two-RBI double from RF Alex Hudak on an inside-out swing that sent the baseball to the left field corner.

In the 9th inning against RHP Richie Mirowski the Blue Rocks scored their last run of the game to make the contest 7-3 in favor of the visitors when 3B Cheslor Cuthbert reached on a swinging strikeout and what was ruled a wild pitch which led to a Swab run-scoring single on a ball lined into right field.

The Nationals were spurned in order in the bottom of the 9th to give the series opening ballgame to the Wilmington Blue Rocks who are now (2-2) against the Potomac Nationals in 2013.

In Game Two, the P-Nats send RHP A.J. Cole (1-1, 3.65) to the bump to gun against Wilmington RHP Spencer Patton (3-1, 1.88).

Wednesday night will be an Bellybuster Night with All-You-Can-Eat food options in the Washmydeck.com Picnic Patio courtesy of Uncle Julio's.

The Potomac Nationals Baseball Network will begin streaming with the P-Nats Baseball Pre-Game Show at 6:50PM before the live play-by-play at 7:05pm. Broadcast coverage is accessible by heading to www.potomacnationals.com.

Check out the Potomac Nationals Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 14, 2013


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