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Potomac Nationals

P-Nats clinch division title

June 9, 2008 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The Potomac Nationals took matters into their own hands Monday night at Pfitzner Stadium. After taking three of four games from the Wilmington Blue Rocks over the weekend, the P-Nats wasted no time clinching the Carolina League's Northern Division first half title beating the Winston Salem Warthogs 5-3. The win fuels the organization to its first playoff birth since 2004 and it marks the first Nationals affiliate to reach the postseason since moving to Washington in 2005.

Pitcher Adam Carr held his fist up in victory after Michael Martinez threw out C.J. Lang to seal the title for the P-Nats and manager Randy Knorr. The right-hander tossed a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning with one strikeout while recording his fifth save of the year.

Although the game was never in jeopardy, the win did not come easy. The night started roughly for Potomac with Ross Detwiler struggling with his control in the early going. Winston-Salem scored first when the Javier Colina added to his double total on the season with an RBI two-base hit. Colina came into the night ranked second in the Carolina League in doubles with 20. Detwiler visibly upset after walking C.J. Retherford, proceeded to throw a wild pitch that scored Colina for a 2-0 lead.

The P-Nats once again showed their resiliency as they have all season long. Potomac received help from Detwiler's counterpart Cleveland Santeliz (0-1) who had no command in the first inning. The right-hander, who was making his 2008 Carolina League debut walked the leadoff man and then tossed two wild pitches to the backstop allowing Martinez to scamper home.

Potomac cut the deficit in half without hitting the baseball out of the infield. Chris Marrero knocked in Matt Rogelstad to tie the game 2-2 after one inning as the two teams exchanged a pair of runs.

A tie score was the closest the Warthogs would come all night. Santeliz's arm and sloppy play from his defense helped the Nationals storm ahead. A walk to Edgardo Baez, an error on a ground ball off the bat of Francisco Plasencia, and a passed ball resulted in two more Nationals runs in the second inning and a 4-2 lead.

Leonard Davis finished the Nationals scoring with his team-leading 11th home run of the season, a solo shot in the third putting an exclamation point on the 5-3 lead.

Meanwhile, Detwiler regained his composure and battled his way through five innings allowing four hits and three runs en route to his fifth win of the season. The left-hander struck out two batters and retired the final seven hitters he faced.

Reliever Josh Wilkie pitched exceptional out the bullpen for Knorr. The right-hander tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Even with a walk, the 23-year-old faced the minimum and helped ensure the victory.

Knorr, who has been the manager in Potomac since 2006, also earns his first playoff birth as a manger. "I think its great for these guys because they have battled all year and have never given up. It is great for us and the organization," he said after the win.

Potomac will play game six of its seven-game home stand tomorrow night at Pfitzner Stadium versus Winston-Salem. Right-hander Jeff Mandel (1-0, 3.60) will make his second start for the P-Nats since being called up from Hagerstown against righty Anthony Carter (0-1, 7.20) for the Warthogs.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For information on playoff tickets visit potomacnationals.com or call (703) 590-2311.

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